All the latest news from Luxurious Loft Interiors http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news The buy to let market in the UK has grown exponentially since 1996 when many restrictions were lifted and low cost borrowing on multiple properties became widely available. There are numerous financial products available designed to help investors buy with minimal deposits and at discounted interest rates. The lenders are constantly adjusting the balance between attracting more business and reducing their risk. This makes the market incredibly fluid and products that are available one day disappear the next, only to resurface again 6 months later. Lenders have vastly different criteria, http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=11 I wanted you to be aware of this new TMB product that was announced today. The TMB House to House mortgage for buy to let is at 6.99%, with no rental calculation, a 2% arrangement fee (added to the balance of the loan), and 75% loan to value on new builds. At last a reduction in the rates - with the over correction in prices seen from some developers this product makes an ideal choice for investors buying with the savvy investors who recognise value for money in todays market. http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=13 For the shrewd investor this is a GREAT time to invest in property. Despite what you may have heard from the media, there has never been a better time to consider property investment and amount of deals available are growing every day. Whilst many lenders have withdrawn mortgage products and increased rates, due to our special relationship with our specialist IFAs, we can still gain access to great products. It is worth remembering that since 1970 property prices have risen 4000%, despite there being many turbulent times from then till now. Our lettings partner, The Lettings Group adv http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=7 The level of tenants seeking to rent property privately has hit a five year high in the UK, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) says. A number of factors have combined to push up demand including an increase in immigration, more people living alone, and a weakening of the housing market. The South East has seen an acute shortage of rental properties, while central London has seen demand surge. Letting agents were warning of shortages across the UK, Arla said. "This peak demand should come as no surprise" said Ian Potter, head of operations at Arla. "Soft http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=8 What you need to understand about the UK property market Doom, gloom and more doom! The end of the world is nigh... or so most of the media would have you believe. But is it really that bad? Sure enough, there is a correction happening in the housing market - and its long overdue. All markets go in cycles so it had to happen sometime. Property investors have seen exceptional growth in recent years and frankly it makes no difference whatsoever to the long term fundamentals. As a landlord, with a long term strategy, I am in fact pleased we are entering this phase in the property cyc http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=6 Daily Express Saturday September 29, 2007 Household wealth has more than doubled during the past 10 years on the back of soaring house prices, figures show. Britons collectively had assets worth £6.336 trillion at the end of last year, after outstanding debt was taken into account, up from £2.795 trillion at the end of 1996, according to Halifax Financial Services. The group said the total value of people's assets rose by £4.343 billion during the past decade, massively outstripping the £802 billion rise in debt during the same period. Unsurprisingly, a large part of the gain in hous http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=9 On the sale of a commercial property capital gains tax (CGT) must be paid on profits above £8,800, but there may be good breaks to be had depending on who you rent to. Renting to an unquoted firm would give you Business Property Taper Relief on your profits. A landlord paying higher rate tax would pay 40% CGT if he sold his investment within a year, but under the taper relief scheme if he sells it after holding it for 2 years 75% of his gain would be tax free. The remaining 25% would be taxed at the highest rate he was paying tax at. This brings down his overall tax liability to just 10%. http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=10 First-time buyers are facing a "double whammy" of spiralling mortgage costs and stamp duty charges. First-time buyers are facing a "double whammy" of spiralling mortgage costs and stamp duty charges, according to a report out today from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Interest rate rises have pushed up mortgage payments for first-time buyers to the highest level in 15 years. In April, 18.7 per cent of the average first-time buyer income was spent on mortgage interest - the highest level since 1992 according to the report. Steep rises in house prices also mea http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=5 Although UK house prices are 12% higher than last year, the market is slowing. House prices increased for the 17th consecutive month in March at just above the rate recorded in the previous month, according to the RICS Housing Market Survey. The strongest house price growth was in Northern Ireland and Scotland, while London continued to lead price rises in England. The government's official house price index for February, released by the Department for Communities and Local Government, showed average prices in the UK to be 12.1% higher than at the same time last year. This is the fastest http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=4 Britain's largest housebuilder is planning to increase the number of homes sold this year to more than 17,500. Persimmon, Britain's largest housebuilder, is expanding its sales outlets to take the number of homes sold this year past the 17,500 mark. John White, Persimmon chairman, told investors at today's annual general meeting that sales revenue during the first quarter of this year had reached about £1.8 billion, "which is at a similar level to the record sales we had achieved at the same date in 2006". Focus will now be on opening new developments "to ensure that http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=3 The UK's rental market is going strong with the buy-to-let sector continuing to thrive according to figures from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) which show that from October to December 2006, rents continued to rise at an average of 1.5% each month. This is almost double the rate of rental growth recorded for the same time last year of 0.72% over the same period. The research also shows there has been an extra demand for rental property due to increased immigration, particularly from Eastern Europe. Additionally, the market has also benefited from potential first-time http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=2 According to research carried out for the Government, the number of single-occupancy homes is expected to increase to over 40% within the next 20 years. Singles are now seen as major target market for the food industry, which takes the single occupancy home market very seriously when it comes to product development. There are a number of reasons why more people are living alone than ever before. These include: - Rapidly rising property prices – many young people simply don't have the money to get on the property ladder. - Young people leaving home earlier. - Career professionals en http://www.luxuriousloftinteriors.com/in_the_news/?newsin=12