Posts with tag: Halloween

The Grandest Gothic Homes on the Market This Halloween

Published On: October 30, 2015 at 2:07 pm

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Halloween may be a time of pumpkins and fancy dress for most, but for us, it’s the perfect opportunity to uncover some of the grandest, historic homes with spooky twists.

Many of the country’s Gothic churches and manor houses have been converted into beautiful – if not slightly mysterious – homes.

This grand architectural style has created some of the most beautiful properties on the market – we take a look.

St John’s Church, Hertfordshire – £2.35m

This church conversion has won awards for its blend of period features and 21st century technology – it includes concealed televisions, under-floor heating and a Bose sound system in the living and dining rooms.

The home is spread over three floors and the main reception area is within the original church nave, with a stunning vaulted ceiling.

Fitzhugh Grove, SW18 – £1.1m

This Brothers Grimm-style Gothic building is set on Wandsworth Common, and you can buy a three-bedroom home within the striking property for just over £1m.

The three-bed slice of the house has multiple mezzanine levels and a rooftop terrace.

Cliffe Park Hall, Chesham, Buckinghamshire – £600,000

This peculiar Grade II listed castle was built in 1811, with Gothic windows, doors and arches, Tudor-style arch heads, a stone-covered entrance and vaulted roof. Can you picture yourself entering through this arch everyday?

Hever Gardens, Kent – £800,000

A former hunting lodge, this Grade II listed home dates back to 1851. Built in the prime of the Victorian era, it boasts grand Gothic architecture, including high ceilings, a pitched roof balcony, beautiful fireplaces and a spiral staircase that leads to a turret.

Wyfold Court, Oxfordshire – £2.35m

You can buy a wing of this Grand II listed mansion for £2.35m. The large, four-bedroom apartment is set over three floors. It includes original period details, including fireplaces and a decorative drawing room ceiling.

The Old Rectory, Witham, Essex – £2.35m

This intricate, early Victorian Gothic country house has a stunning walled garden. The entrance hall has a galleried landing above and the French-polished, oak-carved staircase has elaborate balustrades and finials.

Plas yn Cwm, Denbighshire – £1,395,000

If you’re looking for something a little larger, this country home in Wales has nine bedrooms and a turret with a spire, stone-mullioned windows and beautiful stained glass. The main reception rooms have views over the park and the house has been modernised throughout.

 

Beware! Low Mortgage Rates Have Frightening Fees

Published On: October 29, 2015 at 2:51 pm

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Categories: Finance News

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As if we need more fear-inducing facts at this time of year! Moneyfacts.co.uk has revealed that the true cost of low rate mortgages is frightening.

Beware! Low Mortgage Rates Have Frightening Fees

Beware! Low Mortgage Rates Have Frightening Fees

New research from the website found that too many borrowers opt into low rate products mistakenly believing that they will save them money.

However, the study shows that many would be better off choosing a deal with no arrangement fee over a lower rate deal.

Finance Expert at Moneyfacts, Charlotte Nelson, explains why: “Whilst these low deals look great on paper, they are often compensated by high fees that can scare even the most seasoned borrower.

“With fees on mortgages ranging from nothing all the way up to £2,794, with the average mortgage fee sitting at £939, it is easy to see why it can be a costly mistake to opt for the wrong deal.”

She states that low rate high fee products favour borrowers buying properties at the high end of the market.

She continues: “However, large fees can turn what appears to be a cheap deal into a costly one for the majority.

“For example, by opting for the lowest two-year fixed rate mortgage at 60% LTV with no fee will mean borrowers will be around £1,500 better off a year compared to the lowest option in that sector.

“Arrangement fees allow providers to have greater flexibility in what rate they offer, however, the set up costs are not greatly different between mortgages, so many will question what this is actually for.”

Nelson reports that the size of the arrangement fee is particularly important on two-year fixed rate deals, due to the short-term nature of the product: “Borrowers will have to remortgage relatively soon and could again pay yet another fee.”

She urges borrowers to calculate the true cost of their loan: “There are deals out there with no arrangement fee, so borrowers will have to decide whether they choose a trick or treat when picking a mortgage.”1

Don’t be caught out by high fees, make sure you work out how much the loan will actually cost you.

1 https://www.introducertoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/10/cheap-mortgages-come-with-frightening-costs

Best and worst places for trick or treating

Published On: October 28, 2015 at 12:01 pm

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Many children will be donning their best fancy dress (or some creatively altered bin-bags) this Saturday as thousands take to the streets in the hope of some confectionary. However, which areas will be best for treats and which will leave kids missing a trick?

Zoopla’s ‘Trick or Treat Index’ put a number of factors, such as property prices, safe roads and local crime rates into its melting pot before deciding ‘witch’ places were safe from a frightening haul this Halloween.

Treat

The Index revealed that Milton Keynes is the best place to go trick or treating. Closely followed by Colchester, Stockport and Bristol. Those in Chesterfield, Middlesbrough and Hull were found to be the most-wicked.

Milton Keynes, where the average property price is £266,533, boasted the lowest crime rate of all the towns and cities analysed.

The top-ten best places for trick or treating were found to be;

Rank Town Avg Property Value

(Oct 2015)

 Number of Households Incidents of crime per 1,000 residents Pedestrian RTAs per 1,000 residents Trick or Treat Index
1 Milton Keynes £266,533 98,600 5.05 0.30 153
2 Colchester £276,537 71,600 6.72 0.29 139
3 Stockport £227,080 122,000 9.29 0.23 138
4 Bristol £274,479 182,700 8.64 0.45 134
5 Coventry £175,467 128,600 6.76 0.37 133
6= Wirral £216,132 140,600 9.19 0.40 128
6= Cheltenham £312,332 50,900 8.06 0.21 128
8 Wigan £150,260 136,400 8.05 0.23 127
9 Southampton £259,361 98,300 6.13 0.47 123
10 Warrington £197,522 85,100 7.30 0.31 1
Best and worst places for trick or treating

Best and worst places for trick or treating

Ghoulish

At the other end of the witch’s broom, those seeking out treats in Chesterfield on Saturday must beware of a scary low population density and devilish house prices values.

The top-ten worst places for trick or treating were found to be;

 
Rank Town Avg Property Value

(Oct. 2015)

 Number of Households Incidents of crime per 1,000 residents Pedestrian RTAs per 1,000 residents Trick or Treat Index
1 Chesterfield £162,251 46,800 7.94 2.43 50
2 Middlesbrough £141,801 57,200 13.75 0.37 51
3 Hull £123,904 112,600 11.00 0.52 57
4 Preston £178,121 57,600 13.90 0.42 60
5 Nottingham £174,895 126,100 16.51 0.64 61
6 Liverpool £155,397 206,500 15.36 0.66 64
7 Manchester £159,153 205,000 15.68 0.56 69
8= Derby £184,443 102,300 10.98 0.56 70
8= Oldham £134,412 89,700 9.37 0.43 70
10 Huddersfield £163,204 173,500 11.39 1.04 71

Lawrence Hall of Zoopla noted, ‘seasoned trick-or-treaters know what will help them secure a better Halloween haul and stay safe while doing so. For the optimum Halloween experience, our index shows that Milton Keynes is the place to go. Homeowners in the area might want to stock up on goodies, or else be prepared for some tricks coming their way!’[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/hero/and-the-best-place-to-trick-or-treat-is.html

 

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

Published On: October 28, 2015 at 9:25 am

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Categories: Property News

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With Halloween just around the corner, one American website has joined in on the fun (or not) by launching a property portal with a morbid twist.

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

DiedInHouse.com provides details on whether anyone has died in a home that is on the market, either for sale or to rent.

The $11.99 (around £8) report gives the date of death, the cause and information about the deceased.

The site states: “In most states, a death in a home, no matter how it occurred, is not considered a material fact and it’s not required to be disclosed.

“A murder could have occurred days ago and the seller does not have to let you know.

“A death in a home, especially a violent death, can decrease the home’s value by 25% and increase its time to sell by up to 50% longer than comparable homes.”

It asks: “Would you want to know that a murder, suicide or even a bizarre death occurred at the property before you sign the contract?”

In the UK, we have Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) that mean agents must disclose certain details, for example a murder.

However, the American website believes that people “may not want to live in a house where someone has died, no matter how they have died”.

But it also points out another side: “If you do not mind either way, a stigmatised home can be a bargain and the information can be used as leverage to negotiate a reduced price.”

Could something similar launch for the UK market? And would you mind moving into a home where somebody had died?

Visit the site here: http://www.diedinhouse.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spookiest street names investigated

Published On: October 27, 2015 at 3:29 pm

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Categories: Property News

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Fake paint, bin-bags and witches hats selling quicker than ghoul-shaped cakes. Yes, Halloween is fast approaching.

To mark the annual ‘scarefest,’ Zoopla has uncovered the spookiest street names in Britain and has looked at whether their frightening connotations have affected the values of the homes located there.

Spooky streets

Those with a phobia of creepy crawlies would shiver at the thought of living on Spiders Lane in Exmouth. Goblins Green in Welwyn Garden City and Bat Alley in Sturminster Newton would also be frightening for some homeowners…never mind the postman!

However, the scary street names have done precious little to warn off buyers, with property prices on the top-ten spookiest locations still typically high.

The list, compiled by Zoopla, was;

Rank                Street                                                                   Current Average Value

1          Spook Hill, Dorking RH5                                                        £651,298

2          Cackle Street, Brede, Rye TN31                                             £359,264

3          Cauldron Crescent, Swanage BH19                                      £326,283

4          Bat Alley, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton DT10               £311,979

5          Goblins Green, Welwyn Garden City AL7                           £303,218

6          Spells Close, Southminster CM0                                          £283,059

7          Tricks Terrace, Winkleigh EX19                                           £273,214

8          Coven Road, Brewood, Stafford ST19                                 £262,757

9          Spiders Lane, Exmouth EX8                                                £257,646

10       Black Cat Drive, Northampton NN5                                    £192,587 [1]

Spookiest street names investigated

Spookiest street names investigated

On average, the spookiest property names were found to be just under £200,000. The average value in Spook Hill is £651,298, with Cackle Street also having a high typical value of £359,264.

Brave souls

Findings from the report are supported by another survey that shows the majority of people would not be deterred from purchasing a supposedly haunted house. 6% went as far as saying they would be more inclined to view a home if it were said to have, ‘supernatural occurences.’

This research, conducted by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, indicated that two-thirds would not be put off buying a haunted property.

Steve Fletcher, director of retail banking, said that, ‘everyone is looking for something different in their dream home. However, we were surprised that the majority of people would be happy to share with a supernatural presence.’[1]

Our research also revealed that 3 per cent of those surveyed actually believe their current property may be haunted and that they are co-habiting with a ghostly resident,’ he added.[1]
[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-3290142/Halloween-house-prices-Britain-s-spookiest-street-names-affect-property-prices.html