‘The situation remains highly fluid and the outlook is subject to extraordinary uncertainty’ Last week, as the invasion of Ukraine entered a second week, the President of the World Bank declared the situation “a catastrophe” for the world. Although David Malpass stressed his biggest concern is “about the pure human loss of lives” he also […]
Author archives: charlie
Long-term renters miss out
In today’s market, getting a foot on the housing ladder is no easy task, but new research highlights just how rewarding home ownership can be. Research from the Equity Release Council (ERC)1 has found that someone buying a house today could save £326,214 in the next 30 years compared with people who rent throughout the […]
The ‘Late Financial Bloomer’ faces a complex retirement journey
A new group of consumers, dubbed the ‘Late Financial Bloomers’ are set to change the face of retirement1. An array of socioeconomic factors, such as later home ownership, are the primary drivers behind this shift. Divorce and marriage trends are also key contributors, as is later childbirth. First marriages now take place four years later […]
News in Review
“The UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen” ‘Freedom Day’ in England was overshadowed last Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, with troops attacking the country from the north, south and east. The European Union hailed the invasion as one […]
The top beauty spots for UK buyers
New research1 has revealed the UK’s top ten most sought-after beauty spots from the 46 areas of outstanding natural beauty across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 40 national scenic areas across Scotland. Country living The Cotswolds leads the way, with houses in this area notching up over 8.5 million views on Zoopla in 2021. […]
Investment terms trigger stress reaction
The common use of jargon can make investments and pensions seem impenetrable and intimidating. If the thought of words such as ‘Equities’ and ‘Investment ISAs’ gets your heart racing, you’re not alone: new research1 has shown that financial terms really can make people feel anxious. How can this be tested? Researchers used a variation of […]
Economic Review February 2022
Interest rates rise again In February, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced an increase in its main interest rate for the second meeting in a row as the Bank continues to grapple with a rapid rise in the cost of living. At its latest meeting held in early February, the MPC sanctioned […]
News in Review
“Falling COVID cases and the slow return to offices offer further hope for town and city centres” Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin swept the country over the last week or so, causing major disruption. With trains and flights cancelled, schools and venues closed, people were urged to avoid travel and to stay at home. The […]
Commercial Property Market Review – February 2022
Upbeat mood for regional office activity The regional office investment market remains upbeat, according to the latest quarterly update from Avison Young, after office demand across the ‘Big Nine’ returned to ‘normal’ activity in H2 2021. A strong second half brought the year’s total take-up across the Big Nine cities to 8.1 million sq. ft, […]
Residential Property Review – February 2022
Promising signs in the UK housing market Following a record-breaking 2021, continuing strong numbers of agreed sales and approved mortgages suggest transactions are likely to stay high over the next few months. Net mortgage debt by individuals decreased slightly to £3.6bn in December 2021, according to the Bank of England. However, agreed sales and approved […]