Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Mortgage borrowing rates have continued their downward trend thank in part to the latest Bank of England rate cut. The average standard variable rate (SVR) has fallen further below 8% month-on-month and stands at 7.58%, down from 8.18% a year ago. Since May 2024, the average two-year fixed rate has fallen from 5.91% to 5.18% and the average five-year fixed rate has fallen from 5.48% to 5.10%; both are down month-on-month. These average rates were 5.32% and 5.18% respectively last month. On a 10-year fixed rate mortgage, the average rate…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: O’Riordan Bond in Northampton has continued to expand with the acquisition of Mike Neville Estate Agents in Rushden, which has long been part of the Beard Group, one of the largest independently owned property services providers in the region. Mike Neville, established in 1984, manages in excess of 400 properties and has 10 members of staff. The number of employees at O’Riordan has now doubled in just over a year, from 50 at the start of 2024 to 100 today. O’Riordan Bond currently has 13 offices, including five high-street branches…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Federation of Independent Agents (The FIA) has unveiled its first AI-powered product under the newly created ‘Pulse’ brand. Pulse has been developed to deliver monthly, fully automated AI-driven data and market analysis solutions for estate agents. The first product is currently being rolled out free of charge to FIA members, following a successful beta testing phase. Each monthly Pulse Pack includes a fully branded suite of social media-ready data infographics, professional market commentary, and a unique 1,000-word blog article. The blog draws directly from the data points featured in the…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the fourth time in just under a year. Policymakers at the Bank have opted to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25% today. A lower rate is designed to boost spending by making borrowing, including mortgages, cheaper. Intriguingly, the Bank’s rate-setting committee was divided – five members voted to cut rates to 4.25%, two voted in favour of a larger 0.5% reduction and two voted for no change. Property professions across the UK have shared their thoughts on the Bank’s decision.…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Knight Frank has announced the establishment of a three-year partnership between its Limitless social impact programme and Sported, a UK wide charity promoting fairness and equity for young people through grassroots sport and physical activity. Limitless is a long-term programme that empowers Knight Frank people to use their expertise and time to drive positive change and build meaningful connections in the communities where they live and work. Knight Frank colleagues use volunteering days to support causes close to their hearts, develop new skills and strengthen community ties. Limitless offers a…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Glenrothes in east-central Scotland has been identified as the most popular affordable town in Great Britain for those looking to buy a family home, with Scotland and Wales home to the majority of the most popular affordable towns in the UK. Situated in the heart of Fife, just one hour from Edinburgh, Glenrothes offers an easy-going pace of life, nestled amongst beautiful landscapes. Those hoping to buy in the area will need to pay an average of £5402 in monthly mortgage payments for a three-bedroom home, based on an average…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Kitty Woodley with Lee Carratt A Dental nurse has switched from helping to repair teeth to selling houses with the opening of a new estate agency in the West Midlands. Your Move Breckon Woodley, led by franchise owner Kitty Woodley, has opened on Stratford Road in Shirley, extending Your Move’s operations across the West Midlands. Woodley stepped away from her job in dentistry to embark on a career in estate agency after having children. Now looking ahead to her next challenge, she is opening her own branch with the support…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: LMS has launched National Property Transaction Network (NPTN), a new digital platform that connects every stakeholder in the property transaction process, with a view to speeding up transactions. NPTN, launched following a successful trial period in September 2024 involving Connells Group, Peter Alan, TM Group, Moverly, and a select panel of law firms, seeks to make shareable, authenticated data accessible to everyone. The impact on pilot cases saw a 35% reduction in time from Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) to exchange, along with 17% faster from instruction to completion. In…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Simon Rubinsohn UK housing market unsurprisingly slowed in April, with the volume of buyer enquiries and agreed sales falling, amid ongoing economic uncertainty and recent changes to stamp duty. The latest RICS Residential Market Survey shows that new buyer interest declined for the third consecutive month, with a net balance of -33% indicating a fall in enquiries. This reflects growing caution from prospective buyers alongside affordability pressures and tight borrowing conditions. Sales activity also continued to soften. A net balance of –31% of survey participants reported a decline in agreed sales…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Reapit and iamproperty have entered into a strategic partnership to support estate agents providing online auction services. With the integration, agents can automatically link properties and clients and share viewing information. Property and consumer details will be pulled through from Reapit, allowing auction stock to be referred to iamproperty’s auction solution, iamsold, without the need to duplicate data across systems. With viewing information shared between the two platforms automatically for all connected transactions, agents are able to automatically sync viewing appointments, status and viewer feedback. Jamie Cooke, co-founder of iamproperty, said:…