News & Events

News
Events

News: February 2011

House Prices Fears From Supply Of Properties For Sale

24/02/2011 Fears are mounting about a new house price crash as figures disclose today that the number of properties for sale is almost double the number of mortgages being approved. The latest housing survey from property website Rightmove suggested there were 1.3 million properties for sale, but just 530,000 mortgages approved last year. It blamed the gap between supply and demand on a lack of affordable mortgage and concerns about the economic outlook among buyers. It suggested that some buyers who were unable to sell have taken their property off the market until it begins to pick up.

Not Paying Your Debts- There Ought to be a Law!

21/02/2011 Well actually…there is! If you can’t pay your debts as they fall due there is something you can do about it. Since 1986 the law has allowed many businesses to leave their debts behind them and start again. This can be an unpopular move when a business is seen to ‘go bust’ and then on the same day start up again with the same people, same premises and often the same name.

I’m a sole trader, should I consider incorporating to a Limited Company?

21/02/2011 Quite often businesses start up as either sole traders or partnerships but at some stage many of those will become a limited company. The question is, are you better off being a limited company (Ltd) rather than being a sole trader or in a partnership?

Family Business Forum Launches

21/02/2011 70% of all UK businesses are family owned and yet each and every one will be different to the next. As fully trained corporate members of ICFIB (International Centre for Families in Business) our family business team recognise the importance of this uniqueness and have now introduced a regular family business event.

Sellar's Market - a look at the property market 17/02

17/02/2011 ‘Postcode Power’ In 2011 Property Market The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has revealed its predictions for the UK property market over the next 12 months. Chief Executive Peter Bolton King predicted the rise of ‘postcode power’ as premium areas emerge from the slump at a faster rate than others. Any recovery, he warned, will be strongly dependent on the major lenders making mortgage finance more available. Bank of England decisions on interest rates will also have a major effect on the market. The monthly wait for the MPC’s decision on interest rates will be a nervous time for both existing and potential borrowers. However, Mr Bolton King said that, while the housing market faces a tough year, he was confident that no widespread drop in house prices would occur. He said: “The housing market remains in a state of fragile recovery as the year ends. Frankly, however, this recovery is threatened by the stubborn refusal of major lenders to loosen their self-serving restrictions on mortgage lending.” “A historically low rate of interest has benefited those people who already have a mortgage, but it is likely that over the next 12 months it will rise. That will place more pressure on existing borrowers but also remove mortgages from the reach of even those house buyers with large deposits.” “The danger is that a backlog of pent-up demand for property emerges. That means the market will suffer from lack of demand in the short term and potentially be distorted by a rush of demand when these people can finally get onto the ladder.” He added: “We do not believe that there will a widespread fall in house prices over the next 12 months. There will be ups and downs, but I’m confident that we won’t see a plunge. “What we will see is the emergence of ‘postcode power’ – as demand for property in some areas fuels a healthy market while other, less desirable areas, are in danger of being left behind.”