From 1 April 2016 people purchasing additional properties such as buy to let properties and second homes will pay an extra 3% in stamp duty.
This means that tax bill on a buy-to-let property costing £250,000 will jump from £2,500 to £8,800.
This is the second major blow to buy-to-let investors this year, after the summer Budget in July reduced landlords’ ability to offset mortgage interest costs against rental income. That change will be phased in between 2017 and 2020 and is will dramatically reduce the yields available on investment properties and may even make some existing buy-to-lets unprofitable.
This may of course trigger a wave of landlords looking to offload their properties, which may in turn make more first time buyer properties available. Any increase in property supply stops prices from soaring.
24 days ago
The most wonderful time of the year can easily turn into the most expensive time of the year. Watching the pennies doesn’t mean that the Christmas festivities have to stop, following a few budgeting tips can mean you still have a special Christmas and don’t go into the new year in debt.
28 days ago
December is usually a less desirable time to buy as many people don’t want to move over the holidays. However, prospective buyers do start to look at this time. Selling your home in winter may require a bit of extra attention to showcase your property at its best.
We look at why mortgage rates increased following the Bank of England's choice to reduce the bank rate, and should you fix now?
30 Oct 2024
On 30th October 2024 the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn budget which we had previously been warned would be “difficult”. Below we have summarised the main housing points.
23 Oct 2024
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
18 Oct 2024
The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves will deliver the Labour government’s autumn budget at the end of the month, we take a look at what could be announced in relation to housing.
Recent research from Halifax has revealed the most sought-after locations for first time buyers in Britain.
The data which was taken from the Halifax House Price Index looked at areas outside of London where those looking to purchase their first property were buying. Despite high property prices and increased rates, these first time buyer hotspots have remained popular.
7 Oct 2024
Taking care of your mental health means looking after your emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. There are several ways we can practice self-care that will help to improve our physical and mental health. This can help to reduce our risk of illness, manage stress, and boost our energy levels!