What's happening this month?

£150m ‘Help to Build’ scheme to be launched

 

The government has announced a new ‘Help to Build’ scheme in a bid to make it easier and more affordable for people to build their own home.

 

Following a statement made by the government, the aim of the scheme is to help ensure that self-custom home building can become a more realistic option for those looking to get onto the property ladder through lower deposit mortgages.

 

It's planned that an initial £150 million will be made available from the government over the next four years to help implement and support the scheme, delivering low deposit mortgages and improving the affordability of homeownership.

 

Similar to the 'Help to Buy' scheme, the 'Help to Build' initiative will provide an equity loan on the completed home.

 

A statement from Robert Jenrick, the government’s housing secretary, said “building your own home shouldn’t be the preserve of a small number of people, but mainstream, realistic and an affordable option for people across the country. That’s why we are making it easier and more affordable.”

 

The announcement was met by an immediate positive response from the property market, further backed by the National Federation of Builders (NFB), who stated that it was "wholly behind the government’s self and custom-build announcements".

 

Whilst supporting homebuyers, this plan will also provide an important boost to small builders and businesses.

 

Applications for the scheme are due to open in late summer, according to the government’s action plan.

 

For more information, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-150-million-funding-to-kickstart-self-building-revolution

 

Or contact us to discuss your buying options.

 

 

One in every 50 homes has been sold in 2021

 

The housing market has had its fair share of ups and downs over the past year. And yet, from what we've seen so far of 2021, there are some incredible successes to take note of.

 

Figures from Zoopla showcase that within the first 15 weeks of this year, £149 billion worth of homes were sold.

 

In comparison to the same periods for 2019 and 2020, this amounted to double the value typically recorded, and meant that between January 1st and April 15th, one in every 50 properties were sold.

 

To put this into perspective, in an average year, it would take until the end of June to see these kinds of results.

 

When schools reopened six weeks ago, we began to see a rise in property listings, which suggests that as the country's home-schooling plans came to an end, more households could focus on preparing for their next sale or purchase!

 

There is currently an imbalance between supply and demand, making it an ideal time to sell.

 

It’s worth noting that in the near term, the market for family homes – for example – will start to ease as homeowners become more comfortable with opening up their homes for viewing purposes.

 

Alongside this, the 95% mortgage guarantee scheme will play a prominent role in bringing in more demand from first-time buyers without having to replace supply.

 

Are you thinking about getting started on your property journey? Please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team today.

 

 

 

12 cleaning tricks at the fraction of the cost!

 

From your oven to your bathroom, if you love to take pride in your home, you’ll want to know all the cleaning tricks and hacks to keep your home sparkling for a fraction of the cost.

 

Plenty of natural, cheap, and quick cleaning tips from tin foil to vinegar and lemons can be used to save you time and money, making it even easier when you need to prepare your property for guests or even potential viewers who are interested in making an offer. 

 

 

Cleaning tips for bathrooms

 

Tip number 1 

 

 

Clean your bath with a grapefruit!

 

Get rid of water marks or stains in your bathtub by cutting a grapefruit in half, sprinkle on some rock salt and give it a good scrub, then rinse.

 

Tip number 2

 

Removing limescale from your shower using vinegar.

 

If you’re looking for a more natural way to clean your home from top to bottom, vinegar is your new best friend!

 

Soak your shower head in a mixture of boiling water and vinegar to unclog any limescale easily.

 

Tip number 3

 

Use an old toothbrush for cleaning your bathroom.

 

Don’t throw away your old toothbrush as it can be very useful!

 

Give it a rinse in boiling water to get rid of any germs and use it to get into any nooks and crannies that your vacuum cleaner can’t reach. It’s especially handy for cleaning hard-to-reach areas like around the tap or drain.

 

Tip number 4

 

Clean your toilet stains with coke.

 

Get a grubby toilet back to sparkling white by pouring in a can of coke.

 

Let it sit in the bowl overnight, give it a good scrub with the brush and then flush the next morning for a new sparkling loo!

 

Tip number 5

 

Unclog drains with baking soda.

 

Pour down the drain one part baking soda followed by one part vinegar then cover with a wet cloth. 

 

The two elements will react with one another to clean your drain naturally. Wait five minutes and then run some hot water to rinse.

 

 

Cleaning tips for kitchens

 

Tip number 6

 

 

Clean your chopping board with lemon.

 

Our chopping boards get a lot of use from meat joints to fruit and vegetables, so it’s no wonder they end up looking a bit tired and worn.

 

Lemons are great to lift stains as well as removing any smells. Still not shifting? Then try sprinkling some baking soda and repeat.

 

Tip number 7

 

Pop a lemon in your fridge.

 

Cut a lemon in half and put one on the top shelf and one on the bottom to mask any strong smells in your fridge.

 

Tip number 8

 

Remove limescale from your iron.

 

Keep your iron working well by removing excess limescale from time to time. 

 

Simply heat up, unplug and let it cool. Fill with one part vinegar to one part water. Leave for an hour then empty and rinse.

 

Tip number 9

 

Use a pastry brush to clean crumbs out of your toaster.

 

Unplug your toaster and sweep those hard-to-reach crumbs and burnt bits with a pastry brush. This will help your toaster last longer.

 

Tip number 10

 

Clean your washing machine with vinegar.

 

Place the empty washing machine on a hot cycle with one cup of vinegar inside. This will help remove limescale and mildew, making the machine last longer and clean more efficiently, plus smell amazing! 

 

Tip number 11

 

Use a fabric softener sheet to stop your bin from smelling.

 

There’s nothing more frustrating after you’ve emptied the bin than to find a lingering smell. Pop a fabric softener sheet into it for an instant air freshener.

 

Tip number 12

 

Clean your oven with tin foil.

 

Pop some oven cleaner or fairy liquid into the oven and scrub the fat and grime away!

 

 

For more information on maintaining your property, talk to us today.

 

 

 

What you need to know about the 95% mortgage guarantee scheme

 

A new mortgage guarantee scheme was announced this spring, with the goal being to help first-time buyers and aspiring home movers purchase a home with a smaller deposit.

 

The initiative, which will be available for new mortgages up to 31st December 2022, is intended to increase the availability of mortgages on new or existing properties for those with small deposits. 

 

This comes after a plummet in 95% mortgages made available last year, as lenders lost confidence in the UK's financial stability due to the pandemic.

 

How will it work?

 

It is based on the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme that ran from October 2013 to December 2016, which backed mortgages for 104,736 purchases – 2.7% of all those in the UK.

  

The average property bought through the scheme was worth £159,170, compared to an average UK house price of £223,000.

 

In terms of restrictions with the latest initiative, only first-time buyers or those moving homes are eligible to apply, not those wishing to buy second homes or buy-to-let properties.

 

First-time buyers and home-movers form a vital cog in the economy and housing market, so government support will play a crucial role in restoring the balance.

   

To get assistance on your mortgage needs, get in touch today, or browse our latest properties to see what's available in your area.