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Robinson Jackson News
It is with great excitement that we welcome you to our new website.
If you are looking to buy in London or Kent, you will find the latest properties within our new search facility. If you prefer to relax and let us search for you, please call your local branch and they will be happy to assist. We are available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
Whether you are thinking of selling, buying, renting or looking to become a landlord, you will find helpful information by clicking on the tool bar at the top of this page.
If you are thinking of moving or investing in a buy-to-let property in 2012, then you are making the right decision. 2012 is a very special year, with the prospect of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics setting an optimistic tone for the next 12 months.
Some may enter this year full of caution but there’s every reason to be enthusiastic, says estate agency Robinson Jackson, which has 30 branches and departments in London and Kent. They’re a company who had a fantastic 2011 and have started 2012 with a bang, brimming with enthusiasm that will help their thousands of clients who depend on their service every day.
The National Association of Estate Agents recently issued its guide to selling a property in winter. Here are some of their top tips, as well as our own useful advice. For more information contact your local branch.
- Keep your house warm – not only does it make viewers feel comfortable, it also displays that your heating system works.
- Check your outside lights – make sure any porch and exterior lights work for visibility and security reasons. Also turn on garden lights so viewers can see your outside space in the dark without having to go outside.
- Think about running an open house day – some viewers won’t want to visit after dark in the cold, so an all-day event allows them make a viewing during the warmer daylight hours.
- Offer a warm drink – this will put viewers at ease and break the ice with them, especially if you’re conducting the viewing yourself.
- De-ice and grit – if the temperature drops make sure you keep paths free of ice and snow so people can walk easily to your door safely.
- Light any gas, coal or wood-burning fires – they really do create an inviting environment.
Mortgages as a percentage of disposable income are at their lowest level since 1997, claims new research from the Halifax. In the fourth quarter of 2011, typical mortgage payments stood at 27% of disposable earnings. Mortgage payments have in fact halved since the third quarter of 2007.
Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, commented: "The prospect of an exceptionally low Bank of England base rate over the foreseeable future should maintain affordability at favourable levels in 2012. This should support the market over the coming 12 months." To find out about how much repayments would be on a property you wish to buy, contact our in-branch independent mortgage advisors.
In 2011 it felt like a different set of national house prices were published in the media every week. Whether prices were up, down or stable seemed to depend more on the newspaper you were reading than the surveys being quoted. Luckily national headlines didn’t dramatically affect how local home owners perceived the local property market in London and Kent. It seems people are smarter, looking at local trends and ignoring what might be happening in other parts of the country.
With demand for rental property rising it's no surprise that there's an influx of new rental agents cropping up, cashing in on the demand. But how can you be sure that the agent you are using is safe and trustworthy?
“Our advice is to always choose an estate agency that has a good local reputation and a history in the lettings market,” comments Mark Kennedy at Robinson Jackson's Orpington branch. “Robinson Jackson has over 50 years of amassed rental experience and a long trading history plus we're a highly visible brand not likely to disappear off the radar. Trust is a big issue when it comes to renting, especially as deposits are rising,"
Record low interest rates have lead to the most affordable mortgages for eight years, report the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Monthly interest payments have steadily fallen and now stand at 12.3% of income – the lowest level seen since January 2004. Lending conditions are also improving for first-time buyers, with more competitive 90% and 95% mortgages available, as well as 100% guarantor mortgage being offered through Robinson Jackson’s in-house financial advisors.
The Government has announced a new raft of initiatives to improve the property market. Recognising that first-time buyers are the backbone of a healthy, free-flowing property market, Prime Minister David Cameron announced a mortgage indemnity scheme for first-time buyers that will see them able to borrow up to 95% of the value of a newly-built property, with Government guarantees. Other initiatives include the ‘Get Britain Building Fund’, which will see £400 million become available to house builders to kick-start developments that might have stalled due to financial difficulties.
The bigger picture painted by Mr Cameron would see 450,000 new homes built by 2015, a return to ‘right to buy’ for social housing tenants (with funds reinvested in house building), empty homes being brought back into residential use and encouragement for new entities to enter the social housing market.
To view the current selection of new homes for sale with Robinson Jackson, click here.
The Government is thinking of changing the laws that governs the conversion of buildings from commercial use to residential use in a bid to increase housing options. It is a move welcomed by many in the property industry, including the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), as they consider converting an existing building a cheaper option to building brand-new homes.
Chris Perkins, Senior Partner for Robinson Jackson Lewisham and Catford says he is already seeing a number of commercial units being turned into residential homes: "Lewisham Council has been quick to embrace the idea that old offices, shops and pubs can make good homes to live in - a number of commercial units sold by us have already been converted ahead of the Government's new stance.”
Tony Hodges, a Senior Partner at Robinson Jackson's Welling branch, says being prepared is key to a successful purchase: "The first stop for any property buyer is an independent mortgage advisor. They will work out just how much a buyer can afford to spend, given their deposit, income and the current offers in the mortgage marketplace. At Robinson Jackson, every branch has an in-house mortgage advisor, so the buying and finance process can take place under one roof. Once the buyer knows how much their budget is, they should register with us as an applicant – they should not rely on website searches with Rightmove and other property portals, as they may miss ‘new to market’ properties.“