Comments for The Negotiator

Comment on Just three in 10 estate agents are switched on to open banking for AML reasons by James Neilson Neilson & Bauer Ltd

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:51:20 +0000

Only the Uk’s nine largest banks are required to make data available. It’s a bit harsh suggesting only 3 in 10 agents use open banking. It would be a fair observation when every bank in the UK/ World make their data available. In the meantime, I guess its a headline promoting SmartSearch.

Comment on Industry boss says home sales market due to ‘return to normal’ this year by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real Estate Influencer & Journalist

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:07:02 +0000

If completing on 20% less sales is normal for 2024 – then Simon Brown is right, personally I think the best that can be hoped is flat-lining. Because with house asking prices at their highest level ever, the base rate moving from 0.1% to 5.25% in 36 months, and no decline as yet in that Bank of England rate, he will find with hugely expensive mortgage costs and high prices the 42% of FTB’s who usually jump into the market, especially as Help-to-buy has gone, will be very selective about what they buy and when.

Comment on Tory MP urges Ministers to make renting reforms more workable by Gillian Sinnott The Accommodating Company

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:32:04 +0000

Abolishing the Selective Licensing Schemes would be a massive boost to the Private Rented Sector and would be hugely welcome, especially in London. As I pointed out to the Head of Housing at the London Borough of Enfield, licensing is a top down approach and they need to work from the bottom up. Letting Agents have the best quality rentals, in the best areas, and our knowledge and experience should be valued and appreciated.

Comment on SHOCK CLAIM: 5,000 high street branches closed last year by David Colvin

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:11:07 +0000

*This is Nonsense*.

Most obviously, TwentyCi appear to be adding together Zoopla and Rightmove closures to get that 5,000. But they’ve also included developer branches, which are really only advertising billboards & have nothing to do with EA.

The Rightmove numbers I’m seeing indicate around 1800 sales/lettings branches (plus 1100 developers) closed, with 1400 opens (+ 850 developers) so a net of -400

2023 1800 closed / 1400 opened, net -400
2022 1500 closed / 2100 opened, net +600
2021 1300 closed / 1500 opened, net +200
2020 1600 closed / 1400 opened, net -200
2019 2300 closed / 1200 opened, net -1100

Comment on Million new homes needed to tackle rental crisis, warns Savills by John A Hunters

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:05:58 +0000

With net migration running at 700,000 a year currently and no sign of that changing anytime soon (Last year 600,000+ year before 500,000+) then will a million more new homes deal with the chronic shortage of housing?

I don’t think we have built more than 150,000 a year for sometime so when and how is this all going to happen?

I rather think our political class has haven’t got the slightest clue. All a bit worrying….

Comment on BLOG: Buyers return to market amid falling mortgage rates by John Durrant Mr

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 07:32:17 +0000

Modest falls, I’d suggest, because people have to live somewhere, and renting is almost impossible with 30 renters for every property in some areas. Also, wage inflation is a contributing factor, making mortgage borrowing achievable. Also, many owners had to adjust their price expectations. So the market hasn’t crashed and burned. This might be the closest we’ve been to a balanced market for some time.

Comment on Exclusive enclave Sandbanks revealed as Rightmove’s 2023 price hotspot by EAMD1 HPL

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:13:33 +0000

To be clear are RM saying that the average £ per square ft went up by 20 % or that more of the higher end properties went on the market thereby increasing the average? Average sale prices in Poole dropped by 5% last year so I’m guessing that it’s the latter.

Comment on Braking the Bank by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real Estate Influencer & Journalist

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:24:39 +0000

20% less completions last year and when you sort through the teaser lending rates and add in the arrangement fees or look at the hefty deposits required in reality most come out at as mid 5.5% deals. Maybe instead of all this hype about money being cheap again … a bit of serious analysis around world markets, the global economies etc, which have a far bigger play on what the UK housing market will be like in 2024 might be in order. What is a fact is just 36-months ago the BoE was 0.1% now it is 525 times higher at 5.25%, and high interest rates will be with us for some time.