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Is the north-south divide getting wider? Are property prices rising out of all proportion in the south? Jessie Hewitson discovers if heading north could be the way ahead for first time buyers...
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Welcome to part of our step-by-step guide to the house buying process. Where we break down the often daunting process into manageable steps: with a bit of forward thinking, planning and organisation you'll be able to take your first step on to the property ladder with the minimum of fuss. ...
Freehold, leasehold, commonhold… what do all these terms mean and, most importantly, what is the difference between them? ...
Thanks to Kirsty and Phil, we all understand the importance of location when it comes to buying property, but what should we look out for when we're deciding where to buy? Polly Coldwell assembles the essential shortlist of the best locations for FTBs The triple-distilled adage, location, location, location, is probably the most overused phrase in the property glossary. But for first time buyers already scraping out the bottom of their piggy banks, expecting to buy in the perfect location is on a par with hoping to see Michael Jackson perform again - it's just not going to happen. Unless you're sitting on substantial savings, you're going to have to compromise somewhere. ...
It's an age-old conundrum that stumps many first timers. You may yearn for the high ceilings, spacious rooms and character feel of a period home but, with the potential for costly damp, dry rot or even (cover your ears) subsidence, are you better off sticking to a low-maintenance new build? Ginetta Vedrickas reports ...
While they're busy pointing out the latest life-enhancing features of their flats, there's one thing the developers aren't telling you: that elsewhere in the building apartments are being sold by another organisation for a fraction of the price. Polly Coldwell finds out more You've opted for new build, decided on the location, and after an aeon spent searching for the right apartment, you come across what seems to be the perfect development. The online marketing blurb promises high-spec waterside apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, great eco credentials and a starting price of £150,000. That might be just about achievable on your £30,000 salary and the savings you've been squirrelling. But when you turn up to the viewing, you become confused. According to a marketing board planted in the ground outside the development, an organisation you've never heard of seems to be advertising the same apartments from just £50,000 for a 50% share. You ask the salesperson in the marketing suite about it, but neither the offer nor the organisation is anything to do with them. What's it all about? Welcome to shared ownership. ...
It's no secret that last year proved a real struggle for many first time buyers. So, with the door finally closed on 2009, Polly Coldwell asks various experts for their forecast for the year ahead. A new year, a new house, perhaps? ...
A recent survey has revealed that new homes are becoming smaller. For first time buyers, havin...
In October, Abbey launched a mortgage with free legal and valuation fees - claiming to save up...
Romance is in the air, and for couples who are property hunting, it's time to put your heads t...
High street estate agents have long held the monopoly on the residential property business, but t...
Property expert Ian Rock is launching a guide to getting on the ladder. He explains to Polly C...
For couples, there are few things more exciting than buying their first property together. But...
Recent figures suggest rental prices are now higher than average mortgage payments. Laura Edgecumbe-Ansdell investigates whether the time is ripe for ftbs to swap renting for a mortgage According...
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