Month: August 2018

TBS in The Financial Times – Parents pay huge premiums for homes near top UK state schools

Posted on by Jonathan Bramwell

Santander releases new research on the premiums associated with school catchment areas – Jonathan Bramwell talks to the Financial Times

Recent, powerful research from Santander Mortgages highlights that three in 10 families move to ensure they live in a preferred catchment zone and not only that, the premiums paid for a home can be hefty.

In London the catchment premium is the highest at £70,675 followed by the South East at £40,294. Prices fluctuate even further in specific districts – in Tunbridge Wells for example families can pay 196% more compared with the average property price due to the quality of state schools.

Cheltenham too is a magnet for London families looking for a more rural way of life and good state schools – Balcarras, an outstanding secondary in the town centre has had a real impact on local property prices.

To read more please click here; https://www.ft.com/content/19b372d0-aaab-11e8-94bd-cba20d67390c

TBS in City A.M. – Young families are moving out of London at an alarming rate but they may regret it in a few years time

Posted on by Jonathan Bramwell

Jonathan Bramwell Head of The Buying Solution chats to City AM about why 30 something Londoners are migrating out of the Capital faster than ever before

Young families in their 30’s moving out of London escaping the rat race in search of better value, more space and good schools is nothing new. However, what is surprising is the rate at which this exodus in increasing. Net migration out of the Capital – people moving out minus people moving in – was 14% higher in 2017 compared with the previous year and 55% higher than 2012 according to ONS data analysed by Knight Frank. This comes at a time when the population of the UK saw its lowest annual growth since 2014. The only group who are moving into the capital in greater numbers than leaving are those in their 20’s – this is likely to be for study, work experience and to kick start a career. The flow of people in and out of London is nothing new, so why the increased momentum – especially among those in their 30s?

Housing affordability is likely to have helped sway the decision of some to leave London – many houses on the market in key family areas are experiencing price drops but even so, London still remains one of the most expensive property markets in the world. Price is one factor but the ‘new Londoner’ will be experiencing further draws. Businesses are becoming increasingly flexible about working from home. According to Regus, over 50% of workers now report that they work outside of their main office 2.5 days or more hence, a five day commute into London isn’t so pressing. The ONS data analysed by Knight Frank shows that currently Thurrock, Elmbridge, Dartford and Birmingham are the top four hotspots in England for 30 something Londoners searching for a new life. However, fast forward to 2019 when the out of London Crossrail impact becomes a reality and my prediction is that areas in the West such as Reading, Slough and Maidenhead will become even hotter, in fact, those who live in these locations might get to their central London office quicker than those living in zones 2 or 3. The gastro pubs, restaurants and bars in these areas are hotter than ever before. The new Londoner also isn’t so attached to owning a car when compared with previous generations due to the costs associated and the rise of Uber and car clubs outside of the Capital. Central town and village locations close to mainline stations in key commuter hubs are generally  seeing higher price growth than London as a whole.

The irony is therefore that Londoners in their 30’s are looking for value outside of the Capital but the competition they are experiencing for family homes in good locations is greater than ever before. They’re up against not just their peers but local downsizers, usually with cash, and bidding wars are becoming commonplace.  Over the next year or so we could see the London market bottoming out – real value will be found in London areas that may have previously been out of reach.  My view is that the 30 something new Londoner might just fall back in love with what the big smoke has to offer and although many will still migrate out, the rate might start to slow as the property market adjusts.

The full article appeared here; http://www.cityam.com/261862/opinion-young-families-moving-out-london-alarming-rate-but

TBS in The Resident Magazine

Posted on by Thea Carroll

Thea Wellband discusses her favourite London villages with The Resident Magazine.  London’s urban villages seem to have it all – independent shops, artisan food stores, excellent schools, green space and picturesque architecture, and with community spirit now at the top of many buyers wish lists, it’s no wonder there’s a premium to pay for vibrant village life.

Thea Wellband, Senior Buying Consultant at The Buying Solution, says; “Two of my favourite London villages are Marylebone and Pimlico. Despite Marylebone undergoing a huge transformation over the last five years and its skyrocketing prices, in part the village has managed to retain that personal feel. It still hosts a number of weekly independent markets including Cabbages and Frocks and the Sunday Farmers’ Market, both of which draw in the locals. The Howard De Walden Estate and The Portman Estate have also helped maintain its community feel by investing in the public areas and keeping a good mix of high quality and independent cafes, shops and restaurants on the High Street and surrounding streets. Marylebone’s residents range from all ages and it’s popular with families too – this really appeals to buyers looking for that authentic London village feel. Over the last year average sale prices in Marylebone gained 3 per cent on the previous year compared to other prime neighbourhoods which saw prices fall, and you can still find a large one/two bedroom apartment for around £1 million off Marylebone High Street.

“Pimlico Road and Orange Square are at the centre of Pimlico’s adorable little village triangle. Buyers are attracted to its proximity to Sloane Square and Belgravia, while its unique blend of shops, restaurants, weekly farmers’ market, Daylesford Organic are a real selling point as they bring a certain country charm to such a central location. The area is also known for its galleries, antique and interiors showrooms as well as being home to renowned florist, Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart, all of which contribute to making this such a quintessentially British village in the heart of the capital. Whilst prices have strengthened here in comparison to relatively stagnant growth in Pimlico-proper, it’s the quality of Victorian town house properties and apartments with impressive ceiling heights and natural light available which continue to drive demand.”

To read the full article click here; https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=6b18c2f8-4744-4c89-8f4e-69267cc84576

The new UK shooting season starts in style

Posted on by Harry Gladwin

Dates 13th & 14th August

Location: Hawnby & Arden – North Yorkshire Moors

For six decades, Ian Coley has been one of the most highly regarded men in the sporting industry, both in terms of competitive shooting and sporting agency. He first shot for Great Britain in 1971 and has coached the GB team six times at the Olympics with Gold Medals in Sydney and London in the double trap; he was awarded MBE in 2012 for his services to the sport. He established Ian Coley Gunsmiths in 1970 and began to offer corporate shooting days on estates across Gloucestershire in the mid 1980s. Today, the company, with its purpose-built clay shooting facility, gun room and sporting agency is based on a 50-acre site near Andoversford, ten minutes from Cheltenham.

Here, senior sporting agent Edward Darbishire gives an overview of the upcoming shooting season:

“The opening of the new shooting season is always a very important time of the year for our business and an integral part of the countryside calendar. Traditionally the day falls on the 12th August or the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ as its commonly known, however as we don’t shoot on Sundays the day has fallen on the 13th.

Regarded as the “king” of game birds, red grouse are incredibly sought after and represent a supreme shooting challenge – anyone fortunate enough to be out on the first day of the season will be involved with something truly unique.

The 2018 grouse season is now set to be one of the weakest in a very long time, a combination of factors including some intense periods of extreme weather means many moors have decided not to shoot for the whole of August and in some circumstances have cancelled their seasons altogether.

Ian Coley Sporting hosted two days on the beautiful and productive moors of Hawnby and Arden on the North Yorkshire Moors – an area which is famed worldwide for its quality of grouse, pheasant and partridge shooting. Despite very poor grouse counts across the country this area of moorland has remained healthy with good stocks of young grouse.

The first day of the season is always highly anticipated, especially for the keepers and managers who have worked tirelessly to make the day possible – it’s the culmination of nearly 9 months work to bring it all together. It’s also a very important time for upland communities with nearby sporting estates providing essential income.

We rose to thick fog – always a concern on the first day of the season, but soon after 8.30am it cleared and turned into another beautiful summers day, good breeze with patchy cloud. Perhaps not the absolute ideal for driven grouse but better than the rain which most of the country was experiencing!

The grouse flew beautifully through the lines of butts all morning and some truly memorable sport was enjoyed by all. The vast sea of rolling heather is breath-taking in August as you’ll see in the photos, and the display of flora and fauna gives you an idea of the diverse ecosystem associated with a well-managed moor.

The first grouse of the season are prized in culinary circles and this season we were very lucky to be involved with the Great Grouse Run 2018. Freshly shot grouse from the first two drives were put on ice and whisked down to the Cotswolds to be enjoyed that evening at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach. The traditional way to enjoy grouse is to roast the bird whole with the feet with game chips and bread sauce and the Wheatsheaf didn’t disappoint, selling out by the end of service. In light of recent attacks on our sport, it’s fundamental to the sustainability of shooting in the 21st century that all shot game is consumed and nothing is left to waste. This excellent example of field to fork consumption of game must be championed.

The excellent weather and good growing conditions with recent rain mean that the pheasant and partridge season should be off to a very promising start. I will bring you the latest report from the first autumnal day at partridge in September”.

 

TBS in The Financial Times – Fallen Angel

Posted on by Thea Carroll

Thea Wellband, Senior Buying Consultant at The Buying Solution, speaks to the Financial Times about price reductions in North London’s, Angel.

Best known for its light blue squares and affordability, “The Angel” on the Monopoly board game is named after a former pub rather than an actual street in the area. Today, despite being very trendy and smart as well as close to the City and London’s ‘silicon roundabout’, Angel is seeing a drop in transactions of more than 40 per cent since 2015. Even though the average second-hand sale price in the 12 months to April 2018 is 36.1 per cent higher than the Islington borough average, the buy-to let-market has halved bringing the overall transaction levels down. There were 178 sales in the 12 months to March 2018 — a 43.7 per cent drop on the same period to March 2015. Thea Wellband has already spotted the price reductions, noting that half of the homes in the area have discounts, the most common being 10 per cent.

Read the full article here: https://www.ft.com/content/25aa29d4-8ffe-11e8-9609-3d3b945e78cf