“We can get through this together” In a speech from the Downing Street Rose Garden on Tuesday, the Prime Minister told an audience of voters he met along the campaign trail that, while his government may not get everything right, everything it does will be with them in mind. Keir Stamer said he intends to […]
Monthly archives: August 2024
Residential Property Review – August 2024
First cut in Bank Rate in over four years The Bank of England has reduced Bank Rate for the first time in more than four years. The rate is now 5%, having been held at 5.25% since August 2023, after 14 consecutive increases. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) marginally voted in favour of reducing Bank […]
Commercial Property Market Review – August 2024
Latest from RICS The commercial property market remained relatively flat in Q2 of this year, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey. Tenant and investor demand were both largely stable as headline occupier demand stayed at a net balance of +4% – the same reading as the previous quarter. Investment enquiries […]
News in Review
“The UK economy has now grown strongly for two quarters” The UK’s economy grew by 0.6% between April and June, according to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figure released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday. After slipping into recession at the end of last year, analysts now say the UK economy […]
Insights into behavioural investing
Have you ever made an irrational or impulsive purchase you’ve later regretted? We all make decisions based on our emotions or personal biases, but when it comes to investing, such mistakes can be very costly. What is behavioural investment? Behavioural investment is an approach that acknowledges how our emotions and our biases can sometimes make […]
What to consider when you buy a new build
Are you thinking of buying a new build? The good news is there are more regulations than ever that protect buyers of newly built homes. It can be difficult to keep up with these changes, so here’s what you need to know. Codes of conduct Most developers are signed up to a code which lays […]
News in Review
“The construction sector appears to be in the early stages of a strong recovery” The release last week of a closely watched construction survey offered optimism for the sector and further evidence of the UK’s economic recovery. The S&P Global UK Construction Purchase Manager’s Index, a seasonally adjusted measure of activity in construction, jumped to […]
Financial wellbeing is multifaceted
According to research1, 81% of the UK’s wealthiest individuals are ‘stressed’ about their finances, suggesting financial wellbeing is about more than just the totality of your wealth. So, virtually everyone has concerns about what their financial future will look like. Planning for the future The prime concerns for individuals centred around future planning and retirement, […]
Home Finance – In the news
Location, location, location Homeowners are willing to pay more for convenience, as a short walk to a town centre or high street could boost a home’s value by more than £80,0001. In England, homes that are close to a town are worth 27.6% more than the average property. Interestingly, proximity costs an extra 14.2% in […]
Thinking about making a pension contribution with your bonus?
Receiving a bonus at work as a reward for a job well done is highly satisfying, but with bonuses subject to Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions, you face losing a significant portion of your hard-earned money. A bonus may even push you into a higher tax band, meaning that you receive an even smaller […]