Buyers could be subjected to ‘health screenings’ from estate agents over the phone for Covid-19

Home seekers could soon be subjected to ‘health screenings’ by estate agents on the phone before viewing a property in person, a leading property website claims. Aside from this development in the property market, Rightmove says there are strong signs that buyers are poised and ready to move. Visits from potential buyers to the websites … Read more

Mortgage rates at lowest ever level but fail to keep pace with BoE cut

Average mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level on record as the property market officially reopened for business this week, but banks have not cut costs by as much as the Bank of England rate cut. Finance experts at Moneyfacts say the average two-year fixed rate is now at a record low of just 2.09 … Read more

Should we drop our offer on a house because of coronavirus?

We are first-time buyers and had an offer accepted on a property just before coronavirus hit.  We still want to go ahead with the purchase and exchange after lockdown, but we’re worried that the house will be worth less by then?  We don’t want to gazunder the seller or mess them around, but also we … Read more

House prices will take a year to recover, Rics warns

House prices could take nearly a year to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the UK’s leading property professionals have warned. A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors report said that 80 per cent of its member agents had seen buyers and sellers pull out of property deals during lockdown.  Last month, the Rics called … Read more

Would you buy a home at a lockdown auction without being able to see it first?

With the majority of Britons staying at home because of the coronavirus lockdown, along with impending financial woe and job panic, purchasing a property might be the last thing on many people’s minds. However, for some, they will be preparing to take part in an online property auction, bidding for houses they cannot see in … Read more

Moving house: Everything you need to know as lockdown eases

The property market has officially reopened for business after the Government said estate agents could restart viewings and home moves could go ahead again. Almost half-a-million property transactions that had stalled in lockdown can restart from today, while sellers can brave the market and buyers can go house hunting again. But it’s far from business … Read more

House prices to fall 7% this year as lockdown is extended

House prices now predicted to fall 7% this year thanks to coronavirus lockdown and much of the decline has already taken place, estate agent says By Camilla Canocchi for Thisismoney.co.uk Published: 18:09 BST, 12 May 2020 | Updated: 18:17 BST, 12 May 2020 Property prices are forecast to fall 7 per cent this year as … Read more

Halifax index: House prices fall in April 2020 thanks to coronavirus

House prices in April 2020 were still 2.7 per cent higher compared to the same time last year despite the coronavirus outbreak, new monthly data from Halifax reveals. However, property values were down by 0.6 per cent in April compared to in March, the biggest monthly fall in two years, according to the lending giant.  … Read more

Could you value your own home? And would your mortgage lender accept it?

Home sellers will be able to use smartphones, cameras or laptops to capture and share high-resolution photographs and video footage of their property with a chartered surveyor, under plans seen exclusively by This is Money. One company has come up with a system that allows homeowners to give chartered surveyors a virtual tour of their … Read more