Ian Stuart
Articles by this Author
Good Estate Agents SELL Houses, Great Estate Agents market them
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 9/02/2009
- Property Blogs
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They're called 'Search' Engines for a good reason.
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 7/01/2009
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
Search engines like Google, Msn and Yahoo are increasingly the preferred method to look for anything on the Internet these days, including property.
It used to be that one large property portal would do in terms of finding a suitable home but with more and more agents leaving sites like Rightmove can you really be sure any one portal has 'everything in one place'.
Portal sites are great for browsing, but if you're really searching for the perfect home try it next time.
For example 'property in Ipswich' or 'property in Kesgrave' will bring up a host of portals and agents ensuring you get the chance to really see what's out there.
Bank Of England Cuts base Rate To 3%!!
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 6/11/2008
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
The Bank Of England has just announced a 1.5% cut in the base rate to 3%!!
Waahaay!! I hear you cry. (that's if you're a borrower, not a saver)
This could, potentially, be great news for the housing market. I say 'potentially' as apparently over half the country's banks and lenders have yet to pass on the last reduction!
We know lenders are not legally obliged to pass on any reductions at all, but surely 1.5% in one fell swoop looks to me like the BoE saying ''just try not passing on all or some of that''!!!
After all , us good old taxpayers have just bailed out a lot of them, time for a bit of payback I say!!
It will be interesting to see if the govt/us owned Northern Rock lead the way!
Can't wait to see what happens next.
Confused about House prices? It's 20% lower than a year ago!
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 22/09/2008
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
With all the differing opinions and varying 'advice' out there at the moment about the current housing market, it's no wonder it's confusing.
What's really going on?
In my experience the most successful price reductions over the last few weeks ( that have resulted in an agreed sale) have all been , on average, 20% lower than was being asked a year ago!
It's what I'm now calling the 20% rule. That's what it seems to take to sell, some people are just getting there quicker than others.
The implications are twofold. Firstly, if you bought a property within the last 1-2 years and are contemplating selling now, I'd say I wouldn't if I was you!
Secondly, if you reduce sufficiently and manage to pass that reduction on it's actually a good time to get involved, (i.e 20% off £275,000 is more than 20% off £170,000) assuming everyone in a chain follows the same principle. If they don't, then move on to another one.
So, if you're determined to sell, it can be done!! Do the research if you're buying or selling, or both.
Remember, the 20% rule applies to the house you're buying as much as the one you're selling.
Happy hunting
Stamp Duty axed below £175,000
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 2/09/2008
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
At last some good news for once.
Whatever the reaction to todays announcement of a year long axing of Stamp Duty upto £175,000, (effective from 03-09-08), there's no denying that with the average UK house price now at just under £170,000 this should go some way to reducing the overall costs of moving for a lot of people.
All we need now is estate agents to do their bit and reduce fees from the ridiculous average of 1.5% - 2.0%.
Now that would really be Great News, wouldn't it.
In a time of falling house prices don't restrict your online property search to price
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 2/09/2008
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
Turn this slow property market to your advantage
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 28/05/2008
- Property Blogs
- Unrated
Who Does the estate agent work for?
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 24/04/2008
- Property Blogs
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Selling homes from my kitchen table, who'd have thought it?
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 12/12/2007
- Property Blogs
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Home buyers are happier dealing with serious sellers
- By Ian Stuart
- Published 8/12/2007
- Property Blogs
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Rating:




The 14th of December is looming large and all 1 and 2 bedroom properties marketed after this date will require a Home information pack.
Although most agents agree that the majority of buyers are showing very little interest in HIP's they do, at least, show some financial commitment from anyone looking to sell their home.
