Houses For Sale - Snapping up property

If you are looking to buy some a new place, then be ready to snap it up. If you want to live in a desirable area (don't we all?) then so do plenty of other people too. You need to be ready to snap up property.

Plus, right now houses for sale are priced to sell. Sellers are jittery about house prices possibly going down again this year - the economy isn't out of the woods yet, and there could still be a "W" dipped recession.

Renting whilst you look to buy is still a good option. You'll be a cash buyer so you'll get your next property for a good price. Your costs for renting could easily be made up by the discount you could get by being a cash buyer.

Keep a keen eye out, have your finances in place and find your new home.

Selling Price of Houses

Getting the price right on a house is key. If you really want to sell, then lower the price - it's easy. But the only problem is you're haggling with an asset worth ££££s. £10k on a £300k price tag doesn't sound so bad but £10k in your pocket, ready to spend, is a lot of money.

Trying to put the house on at a high price could mean you accept a lower offer by the time you actually get a buyer. You've lost more than you needed have.

Have a look what other houses are priced at in your area, go see a few, and check that your price is looks fair. If not, then bite the bullet, and go for a lower price. If you want to sell then it's the price that pulls in the buyers. Houses for sale with the right price get sold and with too high a price, they stagnate on the market.

Spring is coming early

Apparently people are off to a flying start to find their property. Estate agents are reporting that they are busier than expected. They were expecting to be busy at Spring time as normal, but they are busy already. Potential buyers want to make the most of the low interest rates before they start to creep up, possibly later this year (can they hold out that long? Or will the low rates stay into 2011 to get the economy more safely out of the sludge?)

Plus, there's the general election looming and with a general election change is in the air. And people generally don't like change so they stay put in their houses.

If you want to move this year then consider doing it now. Have a look at http://www.wheresmyproperty.com to see what is on offer. If you're after a bargain then try http://www.renovatealerts.com - you'll need to do a little (or a lot) of DIY.

Personally I love moving house. It's refreshing, it's a new start and you can make your new house just as you want it to be. Sure it's stressful but it's exciting too!

Take Stock

It's Christmas time, a New Year looms - time to take stock of what's happening.

If you want to sell your house this year, do it in the first half of the year - ideally in the Spring. Around the General Election and after the housing market is expected to dip. So sell in Spring and rent until the market is settled - or has indeed dipped. Mind you, the predictions for 2009 was that the second half of the year would see continued falls but instead prices bounced back. Still, if you're renting (or staying with family or friends) you're a cash buyer, you can move quickly and aren't in a chain - so you can usually make a low offer. Even lower if you get a place that needs a bit of work. RenovateAlerts.com have found a 2 bed flat in London E7 for £100k.

Decide what you want to do over the Christmas holiday and then make your move in the New Year. Happy Christmas.

House Prices 2010 Prediction

What are house prices going to do in 2010? I think they will flatten out, some say they will fall. Interest rates are expected to stay low next year, unemployment are expected to rise, general election, mortgage constraints, imbalanced supply and demand all go in the pot.

If you're selling now, are you going to rent instead of buy? You could make more money with your savings in the bank rather than property. Or wait for a bargain like at renovatealerts.com and sit it out until prices do go up. Mind you, you might be waiting a long time. As the economy does grow there's going to be massive public spending cuts, higher taxes, and with less take home pay and less services people will be reigning in their spending.

Christmas House Selling

If your house is the market now then why not make the most of the festive season to make your house more appealing. Bring on the pretty lights, spiced oranges, Christmas tree and pretty holly and berries. Any viewings you have now are serious ones - either they will be cash buyers or people who are thinking of selling. And if they like your house then they are likely to get their house ready to go on the market after the New Year. It's the quietest time of the year for estate agents so anyone who wants to view is a serious buyer. It only takes one buyer to lead to the sale.

Prepare the lighting before the viewing and do not leave it to the estate agent to do. You know your property best and will know what works best. Plus, you have the most to make or lose - even though you are paying an estate agent to do their job you're the ultimate (wo)man in charge.

Christmas may be the quietest season but house buyers may be using Christmas as a deadline to find a property - so do what you can to make property meet their deadline.

If you are buying a house now....

If you're buying a house now then factor in enough cash to cover increased mortgage payments. Interest rates might not go up next year but they could the following year and they could go up quickly. The only way is up and the country's coffers need replenishing in a major way. And you'll need more money for household bills too...

But is it wise to buy a house now? Are house prices going to continue going up or at least hold steady in 2010? Many think not. Unemployment is expected to rise, there's a looming general election, mortgage interest rates are expected to go up and more property will come on the market.

But to rent - that's very costly too and a mortgage is usually cheaper than the rent payments. Ideally stay with family or friends and watch the housing market closely.