Tuesday 31 August 2010

FURNISHED MODERN FAMILY HOME TO LET

A modern three-bedroom end of terrace family home at Horfield is available to let furnished for £850 pcm.

Presented to a high standard, the accommodation includes a large full-width lounge with leather sofas and glass coffee table, and a kitchen/dining room with table and chairs and white goods.

There are also two furnished double bedrooms (one with en-suite shower room), a good-sized single bedroom/office and a white suite bathroom with bath and shower.

Further benefits are gas central heating, double glazing, private rear garden, single garage and parking for two cars.

The house is situated at Keats Court, which is within easy reach of the Gloucester Road amenities, major employers at Filton and Abbey Wood, and the M32, M4 and M5 motorways.

For further information and to arrange a viewing, contact Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston, tel 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk.

HOME IN CONVENIENT LOCATION TO LET

A well presented terraced house, situated on Kings Drive, Stoke Gifford, is available to rent unfurnished now for £785pcm.

The accommodation includes three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, modern kitchen and a white suite bathroom with bath and shower facilities.

The property also offers such benefits as loft access, gas central heating, double glazing throughout and an enclosed rear garden leading to a garage for one car.

The home is close to all local amenities, Aztec West, the MOD at Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway station, as well having easy road access to the nearby motorway network and Bristol city centre.

Contact Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston on 0117 924 4008 or email them at bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk to arrange a viewing.

Friday 27 August 2010

6 in 10 Mortgages are now for house purchase

The proportion of mortgages being taken out for purchases, as opposed to remortgages, is at its highest level for years.

The latest mortgage index from John Charcol reveals that six out of ten mortgages are for purchases.

Drew Wotherspoon, director of marketing at Charcol.co.uk, said: “For the first time in what we believe is decades, the proportion of mortgages for purchases broke the 60% barrier in July, revealing a certain confidence in the future of the market."

He went on to claim: “There is much talk of a double dip and a large correction in the housing market still to come, but these figures would certainly go some way towards questioning this theory.

“The rule book may well have been ripped up when the crunch began, but the old adage of supply and demand still holds true. While we have limited new stock, demand will always outstrip supply in the UK.

“The last few years have taught us to expect anything, but a further large drop in prices looks very unlikely.”

The independent mortgage advisers expect remortgaging to remain in the doldrums. Just two years ago it accounted for 75% of the market, but it is now just 40%.

“Despite the best attempts of some market commentators to scare borrowers by suggesting we could have 8% interest rates soon, variable rates are still, in our opinion, the product of choice.”

He added: “For the record, we would be surprised if bank rate was anywhere near that level by the end of 2015.”

The index also showed that the number of first-time buyers increased by 80% in one month.

“This is the highest level since February and perhaps suggests that first-timers are willing to dip their toe into the market again after sensibly putting any plans on hold pending the outcome of the election and subsequent emergency budget,” said Wotherspoon.

Source EAT 27.08.10

Monday 16 August 2010

BEST OF OLD AND NEW AT MONTPELIER

This three-level town house at Montpelier, built seven years ago, is a home with an attractive exterior designed to complement the century-old property next door whilst providing all the amenities required for modern living.

Situated on Richmond Road, the property offers spacious accommodation including lounge, four double bedrooms (one with an en-suite with bath and shower), kitchen/breakfast room, downstairs cloakroom and white suite bathroom with bath, together with further benefits such as gas central heating and double glazing.

The ground floor rear lounge has double doors opening on to a sunny raised rear garden with lower patio area and steps leading up to a level lawn main garden with mature flower borders.

Minutes from Picton Street, with its eclectic mixture of independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, the house is within easy reach of Gloucester Road (A38), Bristol city centre and the M32 motorway.

The agent, Darren Head, of Besley Hill Estate Agents’ Bishopston office, says: “The home is in an elevated position with wonderful views across the Bristol skyline, perfect for watching the Balloon Fiesta and the various firework displays held in the city.”

The house comes with modern decorations and floorings, and high ceilings, and is said to be suitable for investors or families looking for a property requiring few improvement works.

For further details and an appointment to view 71 Richmond Road, which is on the market with no chain for £339,950, contact Darren on 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk

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Friday 13 August 2010

MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES STILL COMPETITIVE

Patrick Ennis, Mark Gregory and Nigel Bull, financial advisers from Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) based at Besley Hill Estate Agents’ offices throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire, have welcomed the Bank of England’s decision not to change the Bank Base Rate.

“Once again the Bank of England have taken the view that the economy is still too fragile to start raising rates back towards more normal levels,” comment Patrick, Mark and Nigel.

“This is now unlikely to change in the short term with the Governor of the Bank of England recently commenting that he could see rates remaining low for the foreseeable future.

“This provides further support to the housing and mortgage markets and should help ensure that both borrowers looking to move home, and those who want to remortgage, continue to see very competitive mortgage interest rates.

“Mortgage product availability remains at close to the highest levels seen this year in spite of the seasonal dip in activity that generally takes place over the summer months, with many high street lenders continuing to review their products to attract borrowers.

“Borrower preferences have seen a further move towards fixed rates with six out of ten borrowers choosing fixed rates in July, which is something of a shift from several months ago when variable rates were more popular.

“Interest rates are often a topic of conversation and differences of opinion have always existed amongst economists, bankers and politicians in relation to interest rate setting policy. However, interest rates are unlikely to fall any further and those buyers and borrowers that want to move either their home or their mortgage currently have access to some excellent products.”

To see whether you would benefit from having a one-to-one review of your mortgage and protection needs, and to learn how MAB differs from other brokers and lenders on the high street, contact the MAB representative at your local Besley Hill office.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

HOUSE PRICES TO RISE BY 20%

Despite the latest UK Housing Market survey carried out by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors showing a recent fall in property values, house prices are set to soar by almost 20 per cent in the next four years, according to a national newspaper report.
This will lift thousands of households out of negative equity, with the average family home gaining more than £30,000 in value - a forecast that defies doom-mongers who predicted that Britain would face a double-dip housing recession, reveals the Daily Express.
The newspaper quotes Martin Gahbauer, chief economist at the Nationwide building society, as saying that it’s not a double dip and it’s not a massive boom, which would not be good for the market.
“People can be cautiously optimistic,” says Mr Gahbauer. “If it turns out that way, it would probably lift quite a few people out of negative equity within two to three years.”
And Emma Partridge, of Halifax, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, offers further good news for home owners.
She states: “Because this is happening at the same time as low interest rates, it’s providing people with the opportunity to pay more to improve their equity. And if there aren’t going to be any further drops in house prices then that enables people to bolster their equity as well.”
The respected Centre for Economics and Business Research says that a “fundamental shortage of housing supply” will steadily drive up prices this year and next, with a further five per cent increase expected in 2012.
The growth is due to continue with a 5.4 per cent increase in 2013 followed by a 3.9 per cent rise in 2014.
Based on the latest estimates, the average price of a home in Britain would rise from £179,000 at the end of 2010 to £212,000 by 2014.
These findings are endorsed by Adam Offer, managing director of Besley Hill, Bristol and Gloucestershire’s biggest group of independent estate agents with 15 offices throughout the area.
“The property market's long-term prospects locally remain particularly strong,” he comments. “Although we have had a bumpy and unpredictable few years, positive long-term fundamentals in residential property remain.
“The UK has high population density, restrictive planning laws, and a desire for home ownership which means meeting demand with supply will always be difficult for many years to come. Although economic growth is fragile at present, it will return as throughout the UK residential property has gained 117 per cent in the last 10 years even with the recent economic downturn.
“Indeed, statistics behind our website - www.besleyhill.co.uk - clearly show demand bubbling away with over 200,000 hits last month, with this month likely to exceed this number, coupled with over 60,000 sales detail downloads for the same period.
“Pent-up demand is clearly out there - with many buyers returning to the market as prices start to flatten once again.”

Wednesday 4 August 2010

MAB WINS BEST NATIONAL ADVISER AWARD

Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) representatives at Besley Hill's offices throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire are celebrating MAB being named Best National Adviser in the What Mortgage Awards.
Patrick Ennis, based at Besley Hill's Fishponds office, said: "This is a fantastic achievement and we are very pleeased to win this award, especially as it follows our Mortgage Strategy awards and is based on votes from readers of the UK's leading consumer mortgage publication, What Mortgage.
"I understand that this award was won by a record margin and to know that the public thinks so highly of Mortgage Advice Bureau is very satisfying. These are very exciting times for us.
"I am very proud to be part of such a credible and reputable company which takes a proactive and forward-thinking approach regardless of what is happening in the economy."
To see whether you could benefit from having a one-to-one review of your mortgage and protection needs, and to learn how MAB differs from other brokers and lenders on the high street, contact the MAB representative at your local Besley Hill office.