Mortgage Metrics from the Bank of England

UK Mortgage approvals fall in July

•Mortgage approvals fell to 66,569 in July down from 67,085 in June according to the Bank of England.

•To compare prior to the 2008 crash, months hit 90,000 and Jan 2014 hit 76,000

  

House Purchase lending growth remains steady in 2ndQuarter

Total gross lending in June grew by 6% on the month to £17.9 billion (20% up on June last year), according to the Bank of England. In the quarter, gross lending totalled £51.4 billion -up 11% on the first quarter, and 23% on the second quarter of 2013.

There were 28,600 first-time buyer loans in June -7% more than in May, and 19% up on June 2013. By value, there was £4.2 billion of lending to first-time buyers in June -11% up on May and 27% higher than June last year

Buy-to-let lending grew 5% over the month to £2.2 billion in June, though the number of loans was the same as May at 15,600.

The Weather, September and stuff!

So, here we are in September 2014. As usual, its a busy month! Plenty of people are looking to find out how much their property is worth and making decision about moving this autumn/winter. The weather is helping too. We have been taking some lovely blue skied pics of properties going on the market. Lets hope the indian summer continues for a little while longer.

Whats in the news...well mortgage rates are staying nice and low and with recent poor employment news, it looks like the Bank of England Base rate is going to stay where it is for the forseeable..even though there are some members of the committee trying to push it up!

Social Networking seems to be getting more attention from the property world! I'm still shocked at how many Estate agents are just not getting involved! Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Google+ and an amazing array of marketing opportunities are out there which the property industry is just not embracing...

For us this arena is just brilliant....We hit 10,000 followers on twitter last week - making us the busiest Merseyside estate agaent twitter account! We use twitter for promoting Property, the industry, stuff going on in Liverpool and just anything of interest really. Our clients get marketing coverage with pictures and videos and plenty of commentary!

This week we have been ranked 57th in the top 1,000 UK Independent Estate and Letting agents Power league. We are so proud of this team effort! We are also just outside the Zoopla top 100 Estate Agents and have been in the 90s a couple of times recently!

The Property Portal competition is hotting up! Rightmove and Zoopla, the market 1 and 2 are to be challenged by the Independent Estate Agent driven Agents Mutual who's own portal 'On the Market' prepares to go live in Jan 15. Ian Springett and his team have been up and down the country on a mission to engage a cooperative of agents to dismantle the duopoloy that is currently heading the market. At a cost of nearly £40m a year to compete at this level, Agents mutual are expecting, and to be fair, getting, a lot of support. Watch this space on this one.
 PS I like the logo...not sure about the name though..

And still they come........ Allerton Rd has yet more Property companies! I counted 13 within 100m of our HQ at 3 Allerton Rd! And theres more further down the road.....Property Central or what. There was a time in the 1950s when it was just us..then Sykes Waterhouse joined the party...then Venmore Thomas & Jones!

Thats it for now...I'll stop rambling on....gotta go and talk to people about property! Happy house hunting! 
     

Anfield Regeneration leads to businesss and home owner wait list

 


REGENERATION work to Anfield and the surrounding streets has led to a waiting list of people wanting to move to the area for the “first time in a generation”.
As bulldozers continue to level houses behind the ground’s Main Stand, the project is already attracting interest from businesses and homeowners desperate to live and work in the area once the project is complete.
The news comes as changes to matchday access to the ground will be implemented for the first time on Sunday.
Council chiefs say the £260m Anfield Project - which will see the expansion of the stadium and improvement to the surrounding streets - is making solid progress.

 Read the full article
 http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/anfield-stadium-development-waiting-list-7575234

Top 1,000 Independent Estate and Letting Agents - we are 55th!!!

Roberts, Edwards & Worrall are proud to say we are now 55th in the Top 1,000 Independent Estate and Letting Agents as provided by EAUKNetworking. A magnificent team effort by all the guys! Well done!!

City Of Liverpool could benefit from £6m Football boost

Liverpool city centre is in line for a £6 million boost to its economy when Liverpool Football Club competes in the Champions League during the 2013/14 season, according to industry experts.

Speaking in the latest Move Commercial lunch debate covering the impact of Champions League football on tourism, the economy and regeneration in Liverpool, Kieran Maguire of the Football Industry Group at Liverpool University, says: “The minimum benefit is around £6m in terms of the extra spend during group stage games. The people who will benefit are the people who struggle in midweek – taxis, restaurants, bars and hotels.”
Everton has qualified for the Europa League tournament and with foreign fans expected to spend an average of £700 per visit to the city, and debate participant Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, says both clubs competing will be a “tremendous boost to the city”.
The Move Commercial lunch debate, which took place at 60 Hope Street and also included co-owner Colin Manning, also focuses on the impact of European football on Manchester’s regeneration in recent years and the lessons Liverpool can learn from projects such as Hotel Football near to Old Trafford.
For more expert insight and the latest commercial property and business news, features and analysis, pick up a copy of Move Commercial in selected offices, hotels and restaurants across the North West or view it online now.

Repeat Business

Like many companies we love repeat business. Customers who come back and use our services again. Every week we have someone tell us their Gran bought a house off us many years ago, or mum and dad sold a house through you in the 60s! Well today we had some repeat business. We went to a house to discuss the property market and give expert advice on the property we were at, only to find that the owners had bought the property from us 45 years ago! They remember it well and have decided to come back to us all these years later.....Theres repeat business for you! 

One of our marketing newspaper from July 1987

Zoopla v Rightmove

Well look out Rightmove, Zoopla are at your heels and could even be ahead of you in the Property Portal League table. A few short years ago, Rightmove was king and Zoopla and a host of other so called property portals were the 'also rans'. Rightmove made the most of their position on their perch and put a lot of their clients noses 'out of joint' by, many would say 'over a barrel' tactic with their pricing model. As a Rightmove fan I think they have been a major factor in moving the property industry forward especially with use of technology. So well done Rightmove.
But watch out. Zoopla have joined you at the top of the league. Its cost a lot but I reckon they are there with Rightmove! Alex Chesterman, their leading light, has taken them up. Through a series of acquisitions, plenty of investment, IT development and strategic marketing, Zoopla's offering and lead has made them one the fastest growing companies around and certainly a leader in the property industry. Now they are going public! They have launched an IPO (Initial Public offering) selling shares in the company. Even smarter they are offering shares to their clients at a 20% discount. A nice move by Alex and his people. I guess the majority of their clients are also Righmove clients too - I bet a large percentage prefer Zoopla over Rightmove!  
Watch out both though......Agents Mutual is nibbling at the portal market place...so watch this space as the story unfolds!

See our properties at  Rightmove  and Zoopla

What a day its been!

After the great news we had this morning telling us we were the 67th best in the top 1000 Estate agents, we've had 3 thank you cards and flowers from very happy clients. Well done Sandra for going the extra mile as usual!

We are the 67th best Independent Estate agent in the UK (Top 1,000 Power League)

Here at Roberts Edwards & Worrall we are so excited at being 67th in the league table!!!!!

Top 1,000 Independent Estate and Letting Agents

 Independent Estate & Letting Agents Top 1,000 Power League - Social Media influence

by EAUKNetworking

Even though we are 150 years old, using good old fashioned customer service - our new ideas and proactive marketing push us above the rest!!! Well done team!!! So proud.


See the table here
Top Independent Estate agents

John Lennons former home up For Sale

The former home of John Lennon is up for sale. A steal at £13.75 mill!!


 
Click here to see John Lennons house

All you ever wanted to know about STAMP DUTY but were afraid to ask!

All you need to know about Stamp duty...

Stamp Duty Guide

Top 26 things only Scousers say - Apparently

Straight out of the echo...so it must be right...Laa!



www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-sayings-top-26-things-6463028

Land Registry info

Some interesting information from the Land Registry regarding proeprty transactions Nov to Feb;

Transactions Nov 12 to Feb 13 = 52,331 Nov 13 to Feb 14 = 72,080

The number of properties sold in England & Wales for over £1 million increased by 65% from 507 to 836

Repossession volumes averaged 1,063 per month compared to 1,453 (Nov 13 to Feb 14)

ACC Liverpool to bring £20mill city boost in June

ACC Liverpool is expected to generate more than £20 million in economic impact for the city during June alone, it announced this week.

The waterfront venue, home to the BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, is preparing for its busiest June in the past five years with 10 events lined up in the convention centre and five in the arena.
As it gets set to play a key part in the city’s International Festival for Business (IFB), which gets underway during the month, ACC Liverpool estimates more than 45,000 visitors will pass through the doors to attend events including Accelerate 2014 and Undersea Defence Technology (UDT).
Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, says: "June is always a particularly busy period for us with a series of large returning conferences such as The Royal College of Nursing, which alone will bring more than 4,000 delegates, and entertainment highlights including Once in a Lifetime featuring The Osmonds and David Essex.
"On top of this busy calendar, IFB is bringing in more opportunities such as UDT, which is a new defence sector for us to explore, and the return of Accelerate which will see thousands of entrepreneurs gathering in our venue.
"It will be an exciting period for visitors to our venue and to the city and we expect there to be a real buzz around the region.”

Property Collective noun

Whats the collective noun for a wall full of Sold properties? A block? An estate? A gaggle? Let me know so I can confuse everyone in the office! Lol.

The Giants are coming to Liverpool

 
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/liverpool-giants-2014-giant-things-7184418

Jeremy Clarksons Childhood home up for sale

Love him or hate him....he grew up in a lovely house! Plenty of room in the garden for his pedal cars! That Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear. 

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/celebrity-homes/jeremy-clarkson%E2%80%99s-childhood-home-up-for-sale

Why Harrogate?

Would you be happier if you lived in Harrogate? Apparently its the happiest place to live in the UK! Can't see why myself....check out Rightmoves blog on the subject...



http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/congratulations-harrogate

Is the Property Industry booming or not? More conflicting reports!

Yet another conflicting report from the BBC......the property industry is booming and about to burst but mortgage approvals are down for the third month running!!!! Doesn't really makes sense does it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27587181

Beautiful Devon Village up for sale

Straight out of an Enid Blyton book - Bantham, a gorgeous South Devon country village by the sea is up for sale for a bargain. At only £11.5 million, this litle seaside village with a harbour, beach and chocolate box cottages is a steal!

Find out more

 

Zoopla to Float on Stock Market

See here Zoopla Property Group has today confirmed its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange.

World's top 20 places to retire

            

Take a look at these nice places for you to retire to......Top 20 Places to Retire

UK house prices up 8% in a year, says ONS

House prices up 8%..........so they say. But don't be fooled. This measure includes London. Take that away and you will find a completely different story. Check out wehat the BBC has to say...UK House price rise                                        
                                      

Celebrity Homes For Sale

Celebrity Homes For Sale Check out these Celebrity homes on the market

Dracula Castle up for sale!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/luxuryhomes/10817139/Buy-a-stake-in-Draculas-castle.html