Shared Ownership UK

Shared Ownership: Another Alternative Group mortgages represent the most accessible method for most buyers of sharing the cost of buying a property, but they are not the only choice available. Another type of scheme that is growing in popularity across the UK and is better suited to some buyers is known as shared ownership, or shared […]

Speeding up Your Mortgage Application

Your lender needs to make certain checks before agreeing to your loan. If you talk to them nicely you may be able to find out how you can speed this process up. A simple example is the employers’ references. A call from you to your boss or personnel dept can get them to turn around […]

What Causes Delays

Any problem with arranging either the mortgage, the conveyancing or the valuation/survey can cause irritating and possibly crucial delays to the entire process of buying your home. Each of the main players (ie the mortgage lender, your conveyancer and surveyor) all have a tendency to wait for each other to move first. Things go nowhere fast unless […]

How to Get Organised

Get a named contact in each of the crucial areas – as per get ready to hassle. Ask how long each stage should take. Put this in your diary and call them towards the time (say a week or so) to see how it’s progressing. If they’re inefficient it will basically serve as a reminder. […]

Get Ready to Hassle

To keep things moving you’ll have to juggle: Chasing up the mortgage lender, Hassling the solicitor (or conveyancing agent) Chivvying the Valuer/Surveyor.   Each of them will probably be waiting for the others to move before moving themselves. You’re the one who has to keep prodding them along. It only takes one of them to […]

Price Differences

Houses in the North of England can cost a third of the price of the South. How long it will take people to wake up to this imbalance in prices and quality of countryside remains to be seen. (Go North young family?). Once run down areas can become very expensive – after the students, artists […]

What Home Do You Want?… Where?

This section may seem very obvious. So skip it if you’re clear on what you want and where you want to live. Otherwise read on. (We get very good feedback on it). The clearer you are on exactly what you want the quicker you’ll find it. If you’re just dipping your toe in the water […]

Home Buying Making an Offer via a Sealed Bid

Sealed Bids If several buyers are interested in a property, the offers may have to be made through sealed bids. This is where you all put your offers in writing and they’re supposed to opened at the same time. If you get involved in a sealed bid, aim to go a little higher than your competitors. Depending on the […]

Home Buying and Negotiating

If you know some basic rules on negotiating you could save several thousand pounds by bringing down the asking price of the property. Negotiating is an ancient art form involving specific rules. Learning how to negotiate is not a rocket science. It can be picked up quickly and easily by anybody.   We’ve already got a section […]

How to Make an Offer on a Property

Background to Making an Offer   When you find your dream home it will usually have an established asking price. You have to make an offer.  Your offer doesn’t have to be for the asking price. Depending on the circumstances, consider what you can afford and work out your offer price as follows: What’s the lowest amount […]