With howls from both ends of the political spectrum at the final content of the Budget in October, it may be hard to deduce what might be relevant for your Property Search. Rachel Johnston from Stacks Property Search has some Market Comment that you may consider relevant to your property plans going forward in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and East Oxfordshire.

“The most important factor is that it is now done and out of the way, and any hesitancy in getting on with a necessary move is now redundant: you can make your plans knowing the overall tone of the property market for the coming period.

We’re hearing that mortgage professionals expect the mortgage rates to stabilise, with a consensus that there should still be another base rate drop to come, which will be good news for most of us on one of the most relevant decisions for property acquisition.  We don’t have a significant ‘Non-Dom’ impact in the region, so the closing of that loophole will be negligible for our area.  

VAT in school fees should not be a surprise for anyone, and we would expect those considering that as an option in our well-served area to have factored that into their personal budgeting by now.  Non-private school catchments will be increasingly important, so the focus on investment in education across the board should be deemed a positive.

IHT changes may be viewed as an incentive for those older members of the family to get on with the overdue downsize and release the cash to the family earlier, with a view to surviving beyond the gifting period.  This may see some desirable larger family homes  – which have been in short supply – coming to the market.  Stacks have long advocated for multi-generational living as the best way to get value from your communal assets, and this is now more true than ever.

In terms of which type of properties will become most desirable, that may well adjust.  Those that control their own view will be prioritised by some, whereas others may be able to capitalise on changes to planning and infrastructure plans and make some of the asset income-producing or benefit from likely growth.  Energy-efficiency will become ever-more attractive.

All in all, the fundamentals have not changed – do your research, buy best-in-class, and get on with the next phase in your lives.  

With SDLT Relief still scheduled to end in April, it ought to be a busy winter.  Using the services of a Buying Agent like Rachel Johnston and Nick Woolridge is more advisable than ever – learn more about how a Property Search Agent can get you ahead of the competition below.

Whilst the snap election seemed to pause the property market somewhat, post-election we should see more activity than perhaps usual during the school summer holidays.

Life is moving on, and you need to do the same, cracking on with scoping out your search area, understanding the local market and getting in a proceedable position should be a high priority now. 

Competition is bound to pick up as the Autumn arrives and will ideally be accompanied by interest rate drops, so being ahead of the pack, or short-circuiting the research by employing Stacks, will mean you’re taken seriously at the moment, even if you’re not chain-free.

As ever it is a case of having your finger very much on the pulse and being in a position where you can move effectively and quickly when the right property comes – we don’t predict a glut of stock, but ‘your house’ might be on its way to market right now!

Get in touch to see how Stacks can help you in your 2024 househunting.

Spring 2024

It is a mixed bag when it comes to the Spring market, as there are many factors that will make it an interesting time; the inflation figures remain encouraging and mortgage interest rates appear to have reached their peak. This is certainly what lenders are indicating with mortgage rates beginning to drop. However, for those who are having to re-mortgage the impact is just beginning to show and this will come out with stock levels during the early part of the year.

There are mixed feelings about when the election will take place, and elections often have an impact on stock levels, as people wait to see the outcome.  This may not be as unexpected as other occasions however, so if life is moving on, and you need to do the same, cracking on with scoping out your search area, understanding the local market and getting in a proceedable position should be a high priority now, as you are probably able to predict some of the post-election matters that will influence your decisions – eg VAT on private school fees.

Those with cash and who are ready to go, remain in the strongest and ideal position. Houses and gardens will only get “better” over the Spring and Summer, which usually means the pool of buyers is wider (including those without ‘vision’) so being ahead of the pack, or short-circuiting the research by employing Stacks, will mean you’re taken seriously even if you’re not chain-free.

As ever it is a case of having your finger very much on the pulse and being in a position where you can move effectively and quickly when the right property comes – we don’t predict a glut of stock, but ‘your house’ might be on its way to market right now!

Get in touch to see how Stacks can help you in your 2024 househunting.

Autumn 2023

It’s already chilly enough to be Autumn, so looking ahead to after August…

Ignore the headlines ‘House Prices Slump’  – the true reality is that common sense is returning, which is a massive relief, after the rollercoaster of the last 3 years.

Turnover and transaction levels are down somewhat in the region but, I am still seeing ‘best-in-class’ property go under offer quickly with competitive bidding.

Examining returns from the property portals such as Rightmove, Prime Location, On the Market etc, there are a fair amount of price reductions. However, this should not be seen as a drop in values, as they were almost certainly never priced correctly in the first place. Selling agents have to win instructions, and nearly always what potential vendors wish to hear is a high valuation. 

A price correction in terms of realistic asking prices is more helpful for the sensible, rational buyer making a long-term move.  The days of ‘cheap money’ are over, and probably not before time. In ten years, today’s prices will look cheap, and the opportunities for buyers to secure a really special home are out there now, so don’t switch off.

As ever, our advice if you don’t over-stretch yourself, moving in and enjoying your next home sooner rather than later will always be a wise investment – especially when you have a property professional looking after your best interests!

Everyone’s circumstances are different, so please do call for an informal chat.  Stacks has 17 offices across the UK, so we can help with your property search, either here in around the country.

Spring/Summer 2023

Albeit that the press is full of doom and gloom, from what we are seeing – the demand for Property is as high as ever – if it has been well-priced !!

This is going to be a very active year for Buying agents as volumes of cash buyers remain high – and it is a case of getting in early and being ahead of curve.

There is no question that the cost of living and significant hike in interest rates has affected the market, and has slowed price growth, but prices are not plummeting in our area.

Vendors who have been expecting prices informed by the market of summer of 2022 have been underwhelmed by interest, but those new properties that have been sensibly priced at launch have flown, with competition, off the shelves in the first half of 2023. Reductions on those mispriced properties are starting to appear, and chains are not as secure as they were previously, which leads to confusing picture for buyers. All the more reason to have a professional on your side!

If you are even thinking about moving, now is the time to contact a Buying agent, as doing this before your property hits the market is a very good way to get everything in order – and to help plan the year or two ahead. Having have early outline brief makes all the difference when it comes to understanding what sort of house you can aim for and where you want to be. There are lots of questions that need to be raised that will help you navigate the year ahead and with the timings of your sale – I have clients that stay in touch for years in advance before we start looking for their dream property, but when we do get going, they are in front of their competition – both on their sale and their wishlist.

Although the daffs are over, the stock coming to the market perhaps began later than traditionally expected this year, and so the summer should still prove fruitful for the decisive buyers.

Winter 2022/2023

Whilst is doesn’t seem as if the grown ups have been in charge lately, if you’re wondering what that means for you and your house move, there are some decisions you need to evaluate in your own personal circumstances:

Are you in the right house?  If the drivers for your move are time-sensitive or are permanent, waiting ‘for the right time’ could do more harm than good for your peace of mind at the moment.  If your move is discretionary, and you will resent having made the ’wrong decision’, you should perhaps pause and see how the dust settles.

Can you afford your new property?  With mortgage rate rises, the cost of living forecast to rise further, and tax squeezes from the Autumn Statement, it is more essential than ever to do your sums.  If you’re confident that you are not over-stretching, keep your eye on the properties coming to the market, as life continues to happen, and some people will always need to sell, even if it is not an ideal time.

Should you commit to sell if you haven’t found the next one yet?  Whilst the predictions may be for ‘house prices to fall’, the top line figures country-wide do little to inform you on your particular sale and purchase.  Stock has been chronically short for years now, and there are still plenty of buyers able to commit and move forward – however they are only going to be buying the perfect property.  Price drops in our view will actually be a correction of over-inflated prices for the ‘all show and no substance’ type of property that should never have been that price in the first place.  You will likely find competition for your dream property is still vigorous, and if you price your property properly, a good agent should be able to get competition going for you.  You will always be more attractive to a vendor if you’re in a position to proceed, but you’d be wise to choose a purchaser that can accommodate a wait if necessary.

As ever, your Stacks Regional Directors know their own markets inside out and can help you navigate this process to your advantage.  Call Nick or Rachel for a free, personalised discussion on how Stacks can help you get moving this season.

Spring 2022

The shortage of visible stock continues to be a problem, but agents are promising new stock on the way.

Now is the time to sell : Prices will remain ‘up there’ – demand over supply – but, as a vendor, if you want to reach eager eyeballs, price realistically -ignore the headlines about prices in Cornwall (which are, indeed, still manic) and look for the most secure buyer – fall-throughs are at an all-time high (but vanishingly rare if you use a Stacks Buying Agent!)

For buyers, competition remains as avid as ever, with buyers poised to jump on new property. Remember, if you buy and sell in the same period of time, market fluctuations mostly even out.  Check your mortgage plans in light of interest rate changes looming.

Agents will be looking for the ‘easy win’ – a proceedable, reliable and decisive purchaser will come out of the Spring having secured their move.

Your quickest route to being in a position to be proceedable and decisive – the magic combination – is to speak to your local Buying Agent – we have helped clients just like you make the big decisions since 1984.

And if you are selling, make sure we know you are thinking about it early – you never know, we may have the perfect buyer on our client list…

Winter 2021/22

As in the summer, shortage of visible stock continues to be a problem, and many vendors seem to have decided to ‘wait until the Spring’.  However the buyers remain as avid as ever, so if you want to reach eager eyeballs, now may well be a very good time to launch, especially if you can be patient on completion timescales at the other end.  NB Price realistically -ignore the headlines about prices in Cornwall (which are, indeed, still manic) and look for the most secure buyer – fall-throughs are at an all-time high (but vanishingly rare if you use a Stacks Buying Agent!)

For buyers with no prospective options available, use this time wisely.  The run up to Christmas is a great time to go investigating areas, visit the local Fayres, see the village’s lights etc. And don’t forget, if you like something in the depths of winter, you’ll no doubt love it in Spring & Summer!

Your quickest route to being in a position to be proceedable and decisive – the magic combination – is to speak to your local Buying Agent – we have helped clients just like you make the big decisions since 1984.

And if you are selling, make sure we know you are thinking about it early – you never know, we may have the perfect buyer on our client list…

Summer 2021

No let up for the Summer 2021 property market.  Shortage of stock continues to be a problem, but it’s not quite as bad as it seems on the property search portals, as many deals are being secured before agents have had time to pull together the details to publish online.

If you’re buying, you’ll need to have a proceedable buyer of your current property in order to compete, but no need to panic.  Make sure your expectations of what you could buy pre-pandemic are not fogging your clear-eyed assessment of the available choices, and get prepared, doing the work on location and your needs in order to be decisive when the time comes – and it will come.

If you’re thinking of selling, be sensible on price and you’ll have competition fighting to take it off your hands. Over-egg the starting price and you’ll be hanging around too long, and new buyers will think there’s a problem with your property that they haven’t spotted yet !

The vast majority of our deals this year have been securing property against competition, pre-online marketing.  If you’re interested in getting ahead of the competition, call for a free no obligation chat to help you judge when is the right time for you to make your move.”

Still go, go, go !!

As #Lockdown3 comes to an end, and the stamp duty holiday is extended, expect another mad burst of activity in the property market.

This last year, buyers have re-evaluated where and how they live, and they are on the move.  For those who didn’t get it done in 2020, 2021 needs to show a fresh injection of housing stock, and that impetus should continue.

If you’re thinking of selling, you should be getting ready and getting on the market straight away – buyers are backed up and waiting.

If you’re thinking of moving, you need to have done your homework – there’s plenty of advice here, or your local Regional Director are available over the holidays to help.

Unsure of whether moving to the country is for you ?  You might just need to decide ‘what kind of country living would suit me’ 

With workplaces changing and commutes evolving, it is important to evaluate your new options – start here to understand whether you can take advantage of a ‘stretched commute’ which wasn’t possible previously : https://www.stacks.co.uk/hot-topics/stretched-commuting/

Being represented by a Buying Agent will give you the best chance of being taken seriously by overworked estate agents – Call for a free no-obligation discussion about your property intentions.

For more information on how Rachel or Nick can help you with your property search, please call 44 (0)7502 406688 or 01628 777991

Our website has many Client Stories to help you think about circumstances similar to your own, or to give you inspiration.

Autumn 2020

Go, go, go !!

When #Lockdown eased, the property floodgates opened, and agents were run off their feet, and properties were not even reaching the portals before they were sold.

Hopefully, buyers took the time to think carefully about how and where they wanted to live during the hiatus, and have made wise decisions, albeit speedy ones.
If you have got your house on the market and need to find somewhere, the speed of transactions may be causing anxiety, but you still need to be doing your research, assessing the market and your options with a cool head so as to avoid a #Lockdown2 full of regrets!

For example, with workplaces changing and commutes evolving, it is important to evaluate your new options – start here to understand whether you can take advantage of a ‘stretched commute’ which wasn’t possible previously : https://www.stacks.co.uk/hot-topics/stretched-commuting/

With properties not even reaching Rightmove et al, learn more on how to buy property in a grey market here

Being represented by a Buying Agent will give you the best chance of being taken seriously by overworked estate agents – Call for a free no-obligation discussion about your property intentions.

For more information on how Rachel can help you with your property search, please call 44 (0)7502 406688

Our website has many Client Stories to help you think about circumstances similar to your own, or to give you inspiration.

Spring 2020

After brief shoots of optimism in the early part of the year,  the property market has been subject to the impact of Coronavirus, and as the #Lockdown is in full force currently in the UK,  the UK property market is once again in uncharted territory.

What we can say is that it provides an unusual opportunity to stop and think carefully about how and where you want to live, and that post-lockdown, there will be a lot of changes happening for a lot of people.

There is plenty of content on the Stacks website to help you navigate those conversations with the family and others during these weeks:  https://www.stacks.co.uk/hot-topics/property-conversations/

Written pre-Corona, this article on what you should and shouldn’t compromise on is still very valid : https://www.stacks.co.uk/hot-topics/lent/

For those realising that  Working from Home is in fact a) a possibility and b) more desirable, start here with the ideal set-up of a dedicated workspace 

For those considering a move to the country, explore the Downsizing or Family  advice sections to understand the choices you can be deliberating over whilst you wait.  Our website has many Client Stories to help you think about circumstances similar to your own, or to give you inspiration.

If this situation has brought the decision to move forward for you, there is a lot you can be doing during lockdown to be ready to put your property on the market and sell quickly once we are freely moving again.

A locally-based Buying Agent will be best placed to start your property search for you, even before we’re fully released from #Lockdown.  We can help you begin your understanding of the area, and the options available and whether property on the web is worth a speedy visit – we may already have viewed it !!   Local vendors frequently let us know of their intent to sell well before they are visible online, and once available, we can swoop in for an immediate viewing, sending you our own video tours – showing you the reality, not the ‘realty’ of a house.

Call for a free no-obligation discussion about your property intentions.

For more information on how Rachel can help you with your property search, please call 44 (0)7502 406688

The Autumn property market for Buckinghamshire & East Oxfordshire has begun, now the schools are back and sales of property are picking up. Canny vendors have priced their properties well, and they are being snapped up by proceedable buyers with decisive speed.

Competition can be strong, so organised finances and solid representation are key to securing the deal ahead of the crowd.

The age old adage applies more so than ever; quality property, realistically priced, sells well, especially due to continued shortage of stock; it also seems that the trend of ‘off market’ sales is continuing to be the preferred way of many Vendors who do not want to commit their property to the open market. Local knowledge and contacts are therefore key in this challenging market.

For now, London prices seem to have steadied in many areas and further political/Brexit uncertainty seems to be the new norm, and life can not be put on hold forever.

So in order to get the most out of the interesting times ahead it is especially important for buyers to undertake thorough preparation and research. Sound buyers with finances and legal advice in place may well be able to make good advantage of an uncertain marketplace. For further help and advice please do contact us for an informal chat.

For more information on how Rachel & Nick can help you with your property search, please call 44 (0)7502 406688 or 44 (0)1628 777991.

Stacks calculates that there may be over six million households living in the wrong property, many because they are anxious about moving home in these politically uncertain times.

Historically the property market stagnates temporarily as we wait for general elections, Budgets, and other major political events. But since the Hung Parliament of 2010 we have been in a permanent state of political flux, and there is no end in sight. A big question mark hangs over the May-led Government, and there will be no resolution to the Brexit issue for several years.

Add to this fear of the unknown, the usual ‘winter market’ assumptions, and you can be forgiven for not knowing where to begin!

We’re expecting a buoyant first half of 2018, with more stock and more movers ‘getting on with it’ and early proactive purchasers already have their Buying Agent on the case!

The story of 2017 has not been people not finding what they want to live in, but not being able to sell their house when they find it, so Rachel’s advice is – get stuck in now! Life carries on, and the alternative is to go on putting your life on hold for years, now that ‘Abnormal is the new Normal’ anyone waiting for the perfect conditions are missing out.

If you have a property to sell, put it on the market. You will soon get a clear idea of what it’s likely to sell for and how quickly. If you need finance, start talks with your mortgage provider and jumping through the now necessary hoops. This will give you further clarity about how your finances will stack up and whether you can be proactive on your price to get a deal that holds together.

Getting an offer on your house will now, more than ever, put you in the negotiating driving seat.

Our clients who have made a move in the last few years are sitting pretty. The market has been relatively stable, there has been plenty of opportunity for good negotiation. Embrace abnormal, and jump in!”