Property Blog

UK Update: IHT-hit areas double in five years

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:15:35 +0000

The number of postcode districts with average house prices above the inheritance tax (IHT) threshold has more than doubled in ...

A little place in the snow?

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:35:40 +0000

A second home in the mountains is every skier's dream. There is an avalanche of new property options, but rising ...

Spanish Property Building, from a plot of land.

OPO Blog Admin — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:00:00 +0000

When you have finished the purchase of the plot the next step is to get an architect to design and ...

Despite cracks, Europe's housing market is built to last

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:45 AM GMT
By William Kemble-Diaz

LONDON (Reuters) - Expected interest rate rises will not cause ...

UK Property: House price rise fastest in four years

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:17:01 +0000

This is Money
16 November 2006

House prices rose at the fastest pace in more than four years in ...

Currency Exchange Update: Emigrating Brits “waste up to £900m”

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:06:01 +0000

Brits emigrating abroad could collectively be losing as much as £900 million a year by relying on high street banks ...

UK Property Update: Borrowers willing to pay premium for spa town properties

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:00:00 +0000

Research from Halifax Estate Agents highlights that home buyers are prepared to pay a premium to live in a spa ...

Foreign mortgage loans to be restricted by Polish regulator

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:00:18 +0000

Polands chief finance regulator plans to limit foreign exchange mortgage loans.

This could lead to UK and other European investors ...

UK Property Update: Average house price rises £1,500 in September

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:00:17 +0000

The average UK house price in September stood at £198,552 - up from £197,009 in August 2006, latest data from ...

UK Property Update: New affordable ‘green’ homes for Brixton

OPO Blog Admin — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 18:50:23 +0000

Publisher: Ian Morgan
Published: 09/11/2006 - 08:25:45 AM

Brixton Water Lane Brixton residents are set to benefit from the arrival ...

Spain Takes Top Place?

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 10:00:00 +0000

In recent research by Halifax Hispania it has shown a trend that buying a property in Spain is no longer ...

Spanish Inheritance Tax Information

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:00:00 +0000

There is a main legal body which governs the application of tax (Ley de Impuesto de
Sucesiones – Inheritance Tax ...

UK Property Update: Market towns see sharp rise in house prices

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:00:00 +0000

The popularity of English market towns has increased with 70% of these towns seeing stronger house price growth than ...

Demand for quality investment is on the up

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 08:00:00 +0000

By Sarah-Jane Tasker

Demand for second homes and increased interest in quality investments is driving a strong European property market, ...

Greek Update: Greece attracts increasing interest

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:00:00 +0000

UK investors have shown overwhelming interest in a new opportunity in the Greek Islands, according to property specialists servicing the ...

Polish property is apparently a hot topic for UK buyers

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:00:00 +0000

An increase in the number of UK nationals purchasing property in Poland has been reported.

According to overseas mortgage brokers, property ...

Global Property Growth Update Table

OPO Blog Admin — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:00:00 +0000

Annualised property price growth by Country for 2006 first quarter:

Country 2006 Q1 percentage growth
Estonia 17.0%
Denmark 16.1%
New Zealand ...

Spanish Property Registration Information

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 10:00:00 +0000

A Spanish property should be registred in two different places, each one holding different information about the property.

Registro de ...

Most popular areas in Spain for overseas buyers announced

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:00:00 +0000

Property buyers in Spain prefer the Regions of Murcia and Valencia

According to figures released this week by the Spanish ...

Overseas Property Purchase Currency Update

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:22:48 +0000

www.OverseasPropertyOnline.com have launched a new plan for property buyers.

They have linked up with the leading currency transfer providers, to launch a ...

UK Property Update: Affordable eco-homes showcased in North Norfolk

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:59:44 +0000

Publisher: Ian Morgan
Published: 23/10/2006 - 09:21:54 AM

Broadland Housing A Broadland Housing Association community in rural North Norfolk ...

UK Mortgage Approvals Update

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:00:00 +0000

Mortgage approvals are running at their highest level for two years, according to official figures.

The Bank of England said ...

Economy faces climate 'calamity'

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:25:55 +0000

Joe Murphy, Evening Standard
30 October 2006

A 700-page Government report on climate change has predicted the 'biggest global economic ...

Bulgarian Property Update: 40% increase in Britons looking to buy in Bulgaria

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:55:51 +0100

The percentage of Britons looking to buy in Bulgaria has increased by 40% in September, the latest Global Property Hot ...

Average house price hits £197,000 in August, says DCLG

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:41:54 +0100

The mix-adjusted average UK house price in August 2006 stood at £197,631 - up from £194,454 in July 2006, latest ...

UK Property: Carbon Emissions Update

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:43:44 +0100

27% of carbon emissions coming from residential property, warns AHIPP

With figures showing 27% of the country’s C02 emissions ...

UK Property: Stamp duty, towns suffering from thresholds

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:51:33 +0100

Halifax: 79 towns hit hard with 3% stamp duty tax

Halifax research has revealed that the average house price ...

Moneyfacts criticises UK government over homebuy scheme

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 20:19:05 +0100

The government's new shared equity homebuy mortgage has been described as a "half-hearted" attempt to solve the homeownership crisis.

Julia ...

UK Government to help 20,000 people via shared equity mortgage

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 20:10:32 +0100

News:

The government has launched a shared equity mortgage scheme with Nationwide, Yorkshire Building Society, Advantage and Bank of Scotland ...

UK Government to help 20,000 people via shared equity mortgage

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:11:00 +0100

News:

The government has launched a shared equity mortgage scheme with Nationwide, Yorkshire Building Society, Advantage and Bank of Scotland ...

London house prices rise to highest levels

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:38:07 +0100

London house prices increased by 1% in September to £250,907, latest data from haart estate agents reveals.

Properties in South ...

Opening A Spanish Bank Account

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:06:58 +0100

Opening a bank account in Spain is relatively easy and most of the banks in areas where there are a ...

UK Property Update: House prices up for fifth consecutive month, says RICS

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:11:08 +0100

House prices rose for the fifth consecutive month in August - up at the fastest pace since May 2004, RICS’ ...

US Fastest growing housing markets

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 12:17:21 +0100

These counties added housing at the fastest rates last year.
By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
August 22 2006: 9:27 ...

Investors overlooking local overseas b2l markets, says Assetz

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:54:40 +0100

Most British investors are missing a trick by focusing solely on holiday lets when buying overseas, Assetz research reveals.

Assetz ...

Scottish house prices still rising

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:23:36 +0100

House prices across Scotland are still rising despite the house price boom being over, according to the latest Lloyds TSB ...

Global Holidaymakers, think again!

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:03:53 +0100

Been there, seen that, it's a snip. Really? June Field offers sober advice to holidaymakers now contemplating buying a home ...

Housing makes London world's most pricey city

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 11:49:39 +0100

Rising house prices and rental costs mean that London is the most expensive city to live in on a worldwide ...

Housing makes London world's most pricey city

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 11:47:51 +0100

Rising house prices and rental costs mean that London is the most expensive city to live in on a worldwide ...

New Costa Blanca / Costa Calida Off Plan Property Discounts, Spain

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:09:27 +0100

Just released are the next round of developments for www.CostaHomesDirect.com the exclusive Spanish off plan investment property specialist.

All the ...

UK Base Rate News

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 15:39:15 +0100

The MPC’s decision to raise the base rate by 25bps to 4.75% was not such a surprise as it would ...

London property market raises the game on average house prices in the UK

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:06:36 +0100

LONDON is continuing to drive up average house prices in England and Wales despite evidence of a slowdown elsewhere ...

Retiring to Spain with your pension.

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:11:57 +0100

Question: I retire in 10 months aged 48. I receive an £84,000 lump sum and a £1,200-a-month pension. I no ...

New surge in house prices from: This is Money

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:35:25 +0100

HOUSE prices surged ahead by more than £1,500 a week during the past month, as they rose at their strongest ...

Asda moves into UK estate agency!

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:26:15 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Asda announced its push into the property market on Monday with a home-buying service launched in the ...

UK house sales up 12%

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:59:03 +0100

UK home sales rose 12% in the first half of 2006 compared with the same period last year, although the ...

UK Buy To Let Landlords tempting fate with new licence scheme!

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:14:51 +0100

Landlords failing to get HMO licence, warns NLA

A large percentage of landlords have failed to register for their ...

Prince Of Wales launches pioneering scheme to upgrade UK Victorian properties!

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 10:08:00 +0100

"Pioneering" scheme to convert Victorian dwellings into energy efficient homes

HRH The Prince of Wales, President of The Prince’s ...

UK Property New Homes Update, Average new home set to break £200k barrier

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:18:50 +0100

The price of a new home has risen by 2.2% over the past 12 months to reach a high of ...

Bulgaria retains overseas property hotspot position

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:12:34 +0100

Research from property investment specialist Assetz shows Bulgaria has lengthened its lead over other overseas hotspots rising from a 116% ...

World Cup Base Rate Results!

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:27:07 +0100

In the spirit of World Cup Fever the team at the publication Mortgage Edge have put together a table of fixtures ...

Overseas Investors Exchange Rate Warning

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:29:33 +0100

Overseas investors warned to watch exchange rate

Investors buying property overseas should take notice of recent currency exchange rate swings ...

Channel 4: A "luxury" Place In The Sun: £1,000,000 property hunters!

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:49:02 +0100
The popular Channel 4 programme 'A Place in the Sun' has gone up
market and is producing a one-off special ...

Which? releases buying abroad guide!

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:01:22 +0100

Which? the consumers association has published a guide for overseas property investors, which warns of the dangers of inadequate planning. ...

Owning Property in Thailand

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:54:36 +0100

Ownership of Land in Thailand
Ownership of land in Thailand is governed by the land Code BE 2497 (1954), the ...

Cyprus Property: New Investment for Cypriot Properties

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:30:32 +0100

Cypriot property fund launched by Assetz

Property firm Assetz has launched a new Cypriot property fund, aimed at investing ...

UK Mortgages: All the latest mortgage rates

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:18:06 +0100

May 2006, from This is Money.

Skipton Building Society has launched a three-year base rate tracker with a cap of ...

UK Property: The World Cup Affect!

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:14:22 +0100

House sales expected to rise 10% over next month, haart says

House sales could rise by as much as ...

Top European Tourist Destinations

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:33:20 +0100
When buying a property abroad you must take into account the popularity of the country and location. This is particularly ...

UK Property Market Comments

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:16:30 +0100

Average house price in April hits £188,000

The average house price in the UK in April 2006 stood at ...

UK Mortgage / Finance Rates Lloyds Bank Survey Results

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 12:00:09 +0100

Rate rise expectations hits 13-month peak

Consumers’ expectation of an interest rate rise has hit a 13-month peak, according ...

UK: London new homes prices soaring!

OPO Blog Admin — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:52:37 +0100

London homes outprice UK by 8.5%

London new home prices have risen 9.8% over the last 12 months compared ...

India Update: Real Estate more red hot than you might think!

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:39:13 +0100

Indian property sector red-hot, by Siddharth Srivastava

NEW DELHI - Unlike the volatile stock market, the Indian real estate sector ...

New York, Marketwatch, 60% of US property investors to invest outside USA!

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:59:23 +0100

The Bryan Cave Real Estate Executives Forecast Survey found 61% of real estate professionals plan to park cash outside the ...

Expect a UK Mortgage Base Rate Rise!

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 12:22:28 +0100

Expect a rate rise this year, says RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says the industry should brace ...

UK Property Market: 66,000 homes worth £1,000,000 or greater!

OPO Blog Admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 12:08:33 +0100

In the past decade the number of those with homes worth more than £1million has risen almost 20-fold. Ten years ...

Real Estate / Properties in US very popular with Brits

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:43:44 +0100

The United States has shot to number two in the league of countries where Brits are investing in overseas property, ...

Global House Price Growth: Estonia best annual increase.

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:33:34 +0100

Estonia has experienced the sharpest annual rise in house prices of any country in the world in the first quarter ...

UK Government Home Improvement Plans, get more bashing!

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:44:48 +0100

Stafford voices HIPs concerns

Stafford Railway Building Society is warning that Housing Information Packs (HIPs) could have a negative ...

UK Mortgage Market Expert Comment

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:14:45 +0100

Peter Charles, Chief Economist at Mortgage Express, says:

Was there any doubt that the MPC would leave base rate unchanged ...

UK Investment Property News, Mortgage Rates Unchanged

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:10:33 +0100

The Bank of England Monetary committee have confirmed that UK mortgage rates will remain unchanged this month, the tenth month ...

Channel 4 Place In The Sun / Home or Away Needs Property Hunters

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:01:25 +0100
Channel 4's top property program 'A Place In The Sun/Home or Away'
helps people to re-locate, establish a base, or ...

Map of Almeria Region of Spain

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:40:18 +0100
I posted a new photo to Almeria.

Spain Costa Blanca Map

OPO Blog Admin — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:12:01 +0100
I posted a new photo to CostaBlanca.

Saudi Update: New Jeddah housing developments announced

OPO Blog Admin — Thu, 11 May 2006 22:28:21 +0100
Jeddah embarks on mega housing project

Emaar unveils another $11.2-billion luxury housing project in Jeddah which consist of 20,000 residential ...

Scottish Property Update: Light Eco Homes

OPO Blog Admin — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 10:49:02 +0100

You have to cross the water to the Isle of Bute to find some of the most futuristic "social housing" ...

Wildlife Property Developments in South Africa

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:13:32 +0000

Property resorts in South Africa are giving wildlife lovers the chance to live inside the animal kingdom - without disturbing ...

Brits Holiday Homes, Not so close to home now it seems!

OPO Blog Admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:30:05 +0000

The search for holiday homes is widening. Richard Evans explains how to buy in up and coming areas

Years ago ...