Category: Buying a house
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How to find a custom-build plot — ways to optimise your search
If you like the idea of a rather more hands-off approach to building your own home compared to self building, it’s important to know how to find a custom-build plot in the area in which you want to live. With a level of developer involvement, custom build avoids some of the issues that have to…
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Stamp duty changes push 1 in 4 homebuyers out of the market
For thousands of hopeful homebuyers across the UK, the dream of owning a home is slipping further out of reach. As stamp duty reforms loom, many are racing against time to complete their purchases before a sudden tax hike makes homeownership even more unaffordable. With new thresholds set to take effect on April 1, experts…
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The end of leaseholds? Government pushes major housing reform
The Government has announced sweeping changes to homeownership, taking a step toward banning new leaseholds in England and Wales. The move, aimed at replacing the controversial system with commonhold ownership, promises to give homeowners greater control over their properties while addressing mounting complaints over spiraling service charges. These reforms could transform the way people manage…
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9 questions you should ask when you’re buying land to build on
The merits and downsides of a plot for a self build might seem apparent compared to those of a house, but there are questions you should ask when you’re buying land to build on. Neglect to find out everything you can about it and you can end up with a project that’s far more costly…
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7 housebuying mistakes — and the ways to avoid them
House-buying mistakes don’t tend to be original. Property experts see people making the same errors time and again with results that can be anything from disappointing to far more serious. But there’s no need to repeat these mistakes when you’re buying a house. Learn where others have gone wrong and you can end up with…
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How long does it take to buy a house? The details on when to expect to move in
Homebuying has many stages you need to go through between making the decision to purchase and holding the keys in your hand, so it’s probably no surprise to hear that it takes time. But what can make the process a little less daunting is understanding how long this might be. Individual factors matter when you’re…
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Should you buy a house with subsidence? We weigh up the pros and cons
The prospect of buying a house with subsidence can be seriously concerning. While there could be the attraction of spending less on a property, structural issues with a home are not to be taken lightly. If you’re buying a house with a mortgage, whether you would be able to borrow money for a home with…
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Do you need to pay stamp duty on a building plot?
If you’re buying land in order to construct your own home, you might be asking if you need to pay stamp duty on a building plot. The idea of making savings at this stage of a self-build project is, after all, an appealing one. When you’re buying a house stamp duty land tax (SDLT) may…
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Mortgage price war heats up as rates fall below 4%: homebuyers urged to act fast
A mortgage price war has erupted among major UK lenders, with Santander, Barclays, and Nationwide all launching deals below 4% for the first time since November. The rate cuts come as the Bank of England’s recent decision to lower the base rate to 4.5% fuels competition among lenders as more people look to secure cheaper…
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What you need to know about buying a house near a pylon
As the UK moves towards green energy, pylons carrying overhead electrical cables are a hot topic, with the government planning thousands of miles of new roll-out by 2030 to connect wind farms and renewable energy power stations to the National Grid. As well as the visual impact, especially on rural landscapes, pylons have long raised…