London Property Finder

CABE – the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment the government’s advisor on design of buldings and public space has set 5 gold standards for local authorities to judge their public spaces ahead of the 2012 Olympics.  The criteria, one for each Olympic ring are for all local authorities, not just those in London. 

CEO of CABE, Richard Simmons said: €œ2012 will be a massive test of the quality of our public space. Not just in London, but right across the country when people gather in all the major civic spaces to watch and celebrate. So are we ready? Local authorities have four years to get it right.€

Public spaces for viewing the games on mega screens by satellite link are planned across the country and CABE last year set up Spaceshaper to advise community groups with redesigns to parks and squares.

The gold standards drawn up by CABE are:

1. An inclusive space: does everyone feel welcome and safe?
2. A distinctive space: does the space contribute to local character?
3. A healthy space: does the space encourage active lifestyles where even the unathletic can be inspired to try for a personal best?
4. A sustainable place: is there a long-term plan for effective management and maintenance?
5. A green place: softer, greener, natural surfaces will adapt much better to climate change.

Let’s hope our athletes continue to do us proud! Call the London Property Finder for news of property close to major sites of our public spaces

Technorati Tags: 5 Gold Standards for public spaces, London Property Finder, Public Spaces

Tags: 5 Gold Standards for public spaces, London Property Finder, Public Spaces

Musings of a London Property Finder

Citywire reports that the middle classes are heading to Aldi, Lidl et al and deserting Waitrose.  Apparently Waitrose sales, although up y-on-y due to inflationary food prices, are lagging behind the other ‘big four’.  Tony Bonsignore on Citywire writes that according to market research specialist TNS, Aldi and Lidl have seen share increases of 19.8pts and 12.3pts respectively over the last three months. 

The Iceland MD must be rubbing his hands with glee as share has jumped to 14.4pts – the proportion of Katona effect v Credit Crunch effect will presumably be debated hotly around the negotiating table if Iceland want more ads with Kerry in the lead role.

We digress.  Some families are clearly feeling the pinch.  But property is not moving and anyway, property is an emotional thing.  Frankly it’s embarrassing to sell your designer pad for 10pts less than the Joneses up the road with their avocado bathroom and pink swirly carpet!  Even if it was 10 months ago

We don’t think many people will put their homes on the market unless they are desperate to sell.  So we offer low.  But some people would rather their home sit empty or be rented than to sell at a lower price than they could have achieved last year.

Although we could recount countless stories of short-term property gains – including one we saw today – a flat in Cambridge sold in September for £210K and sold again in January this year for £228K - property is not a liquid asset which can lose 25pts of it’s value overnight like stocks and shares.

The new customers who are choosing to flock to discount supermarkets are doing exactly what we would expect them to do – make cuts elsewhere to maintain the facade of prosperity – the keystone of which is the family home. 

We can’t claim to be at the cutting edge of fashion – but from what we believe, it is trendier to mix Chanel with Primark than to wear designer brands top to toe.  Expect this to change as the key designer pieces become beyond the budgets of the masses, who would prefer to make their mortgage repayments than face the unparalleled shame of repossession. If you are looking for a house it could be that now is the time to contact a London Property Finder

Technorati Tags: Family Home, London Property Finder, Supermarkets and the Credit Crunch

Tags: Family Home, London Property Finder, Supermarkets and the Credit Crunch

Musings of a London Property Finder

There have been a number of articles recently asking if Buy-To-Let will prove to be the sub-prime of the UK property market.  Regular readers will remember that we think ill-advised buy-to-let landlords will come a cropper but whether buy-to-let will bring down the entire housing market, is another issue altogether.
The US sub-prime issue has been caused by loans to people without the means to pay over the long-term secured on worthless property.
Scandals of banks lending inappropriately have led to a tightening up of regulations in the UK, particularly by responsible high street lenders themselves, who didn’t want the associated negative PR.  Therefore irresponsible lending started later and ended sooner in the UK.
Secondly, there is a supply problem affecting a great deal of the UK, particularly in London and the South East.  We are living in a small, over-populated island where development land is valuable and in short supply.  This means that property can always be sold at a price, albeit a lower price than the vendor paid.  Which is why property bought in the right location at the right price is a good investment here.  Hence the rise in  Sale and Rent Back companies and the return of professional property investors to auction rooms throughout the UK.
This London Property Finder says for every distressed seller, there is an investor waiting to pounce, for the right (low) price, of course.

Technorati Tags: Buy-to-let, Irresponsible lending, London Property Finder, Professional Property Investors

Tags: Buy-to-let, Irresponsible lending, London Property Finder, Professional Property Investors