News & Updates
Why move now?
Posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2024
It's a well-known fact that the property market is driven by sentiment which can be easily influenced by the media, the bugbear of many estate agents!
As humans we tend to follow the pack and we see this in the property industry all the time.
A reprieve for Landlords
Posted on Tuesday, November 7, 2023
In a significant move that has been welcomed by many landlords, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently announced the reversal of enforcing new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards for rental properties by 2028. This speaks directly to concerns that had been brewing in the rental market for some time.
Is now a good time to invest?
Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2023
Ever since the late 1990s the buy-to-let market has been a dynamic and lucrative sector for investors looking to build wealth through property ownership.
However, like all asset classes, it is not immune to fluctuations and changes. In recent years, the landscape of buy-to-let mortgages has seen several notable shifts that have both challenged and offered opportunities to investors. So, is now a good time to invest in a buy-to-let? In short… yes.
Struggling to find somewhere to buy?
Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2023
If you are struggling to find the right property, feel like you aren't told about the best houses coming to market, need some professional guidance on buying a home or simply don’t have the time to search for a property yourself, then Hat and Home Private Search can help.
Estate agents move home too!
Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2023
The property market is driven by sentiment and the events of the last three years have sent buyers and sellers on a rollercoaster of emotions. Whether it was the sharp rise...
Should an agent manage my let for me?
Posted on Friday, August 25, 2023
Many landlords are successful individuals who place a high value on their time so the support of an agent in engaging contractors, obtaining and comparing quotes, and liaising with tenants is an efficient way to manage a property.
Renters Reform Bill
Posted on Thursday, July 6, 2023
The most publicised headline from the bill is the scrapping of Section 21 or so-called “no-fault” evictions. Section 21 gives landlords the ability to ask their tenants to leave with 2 months’ notice without needing to...
The upside of upsizing
Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2023
“Today, whilst you might now get £473,800 for your 3-bed, the 5-bed house is now £828,000 meaning you only require £354,000 to upsize – a saving of £31,000.”
A resilient sales market
Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2023
The property market is rarely out of the newspapers and the past six months have been no different. Multiple interest rate hikes led to mortgages becoming more expensive and as a direct result, affordability for many buyers in the market changed overnight.
A booming rental market
Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2023
There has never been a better time to let your property due to the imbalance between what’s available and the volume of tenants looking.
Interest rates and the property market
Posted on Sunday, August 7, 2022
The Bank of England raised interest rates by 0.5% last week, the greatest single rise we have seen in 27 years, taking the base rate to 1.75%. So what does this mean for the property market?
A chain reaction
Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022
In my twenty-plus years in estate agency I have never dealt with as many chains as I have over the past year. A rising market essentially puts the brakes on for anyone even considering ‘breaking’ a chain which in turn creates inertia in the market and it feels like some transactions come to a grinding halt before they’ve begun.
Are you under-letting your property?
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2022
There is a lot of noise right now about increases in rents. Wokingham recently made it into Rightmove’s Top 10 rental hotspots in the UK with a 14.7% rise in average asking prices (Q4 2020 Vs Q42021). It’s easy to see what that means for a property being let for the first time – but what does it mean if your property is already under tenancy?
How to exchange in six-weeks
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2022
According to Zoopla the average time it takes to get a property from under offer to exchange of contracts is 115 days or 16 weeks. As if buying a property in this market isn’t challenging enough, you are then faced with a near four-month wait before you can breathe a sigh of relief and actually plan to move home.
A discreet approach
Posted on Monday, February 7, 2022
Finding a property that gives you butterflies when you walk in the front door is not always easy, especially in a market with limited supply like we have seen over the past 18 months. Scouring Rightmove and Zoopla and ensuring you are registered with local estate agents should cover you for 85% of the properties for sale… but what about the other 15%?
Lettings market review
Posted on Thursday, January 6, 2022
2021 was a year characterised by unprecedented demand in the lettings market. Agents were inundated by tenant enquiries for rental property on a scale unseen for at least a decade.
A market review
Posted on Thursday, January 6, 2022
2021 was a challenging year across the globe, so as we firmly plant our feet into the new year with a mask in one hand and a lateral flow test in the other I wanted to reflect on what the past couple of years has meant for the property market.
Chicken and the egg
Posted on Sunday, December 5, 2021
Moving home is a big decision and one that we all have to get right and the first decision is whether to come to the market before you have found a home to buy? Yes, is the simple answer.
The return of the first-time buyer
Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2021
For those of you who keep an eye on the property market, you will be aware that the appetite for flats and apartments has been somewhat subdued for 18 months, but there has been a pronounced shift in demand over the past ten weeks which has totally changed the landscape for sellers and buyers.
What's next?
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2021
“What’s next for the property market?” is a question I have been asked repeatedly since the end of the Stamp Duty holiday.
The fundamental of any market is the relationship between supply and demand. The tax break reduced moving costs significantly so it was inevitable it would fuel demand, which when coupled with a pronounced shortage of housing stock, led to competition among buyers and price increases.
Exodus west!
Posted on Saturday, September 4, 2021
Berkshire and the home counties have always been a natural draw for those ready to part company with London life, but this year we have seen a greater demand than ever before. The reasons for this are obvious and stem from the COVID-19 pandemic. A disproportionate amount of time spent indoors highlighted inadequacies in people’s current accommodation and prompted many people to re-evaluate their short and medium-term housing plans.
Market Update - July 2021
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2021
The first half of 2021 has been extremely busy, with demand outstripping supply particularly in the house market. This led to significant price rises of 10-13% in RG40 and RG41 postcodes over the past 12 months as buyers looked to upgrade from their current property or move out of the rental sector. The various lockdowns experienced due to COVID-19, and the consequential amount of time spent indoors highlighted inadequacies in people’s current home in terms of space, condition, access to a garden and the ability to work from home. Couple this with the government incentive of a Stamp Duty holiday and it was no wonder the market saw activity go through the roof.
The work-from-home revolution!
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2021
There are many things that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed and one of those is the working-from-home revolution. Whilst initially it came about from necessity, many companies have now seen the benefit of offering their people greater flexibility of working arrangements and employees have seen the advantages to less travel, more time with children and family, cheaper accommodation options geographically and better work-life balance. One thing’s for sure, it’s here to stay.
The Power of the Board
Posted on Sunday, June 6, 2021
I am often asked whether a ‘For Sale’ or ‘To Let’ sign is still necessary in a predominantly digital world. “Surely everyone looks on the property search sites?”, “I live in a quiet street so what’s the point?” and “I don’t want the neighbours to know I am selling” are the three most common objections from clients when they first come to market. It’s understandable, because on the face of it they are all perfectly valid comments but dig a little deeper and there are more reasons to have a board than to not have one.
A Question of Timing
Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2021
The average person will sell a property three to four times in their lifetime and the impact of such an infrequent event can be significant, even life changing. Given that property is likely to be your largest personal asset, you will want to get the best result, but getting your timing wrong could mean losing out on thousands of pounds.
