July Newsletter

How has Brexit created opportunity in the market?

 

Data released from Rightmove has shown that agreed house sales last month rose 6.1% from the same point last year, with every single region showing improvement. Considering the current climate of Brexit, could this upsurge in the property market actually be attributed to the relative political instability, rather than in spite of it?

It’s been another period of gigantic upheaval in British politics in regard to Brexit, but months of uncertainty have seemingly encouraged a spike in activity in a rush to beat the currently unstable deadline of October 31st. Buyers and sellers are therefore making something of a concerted effort to complete their property transactions within the next quarter.

Supporting this microcosm of activity in the market is the number of UK mortgage approvals which have also risen significantly. Approvals for house purchases rose to their highest level for two and a half years in July, with Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, stating that: “It is possible that mortgage activity is being lifted by some people looking to complete their house purchases before Brexit occurs on 31 October, given the major uncertainties surrounding the UK successfully leaving the EU with a deal.”

Speaking prior to recent developments in the House of Commons, CEO of reallymoving Rob Houghton says: “The outlook for the property market over the next three months is remarkably positive, considering the current political and economic context. The recent election of a new Prime Minister who is committed to leaving the EU on Halloween even if a deal isn’t reached could mean clouds are gathering on the horizon, but any impact on prices in the short term is likely to be mitigated by the urgency of home movers to complete deals in the next three months.”

The Hemel Triathlon is coming on Sunday 29th September

Join us on Sunday 29 September for the Hemel Hempstead Triathlon. Gear up for swimming, bike riding and a 5km run!

Click here to read The Hemel Triathlon is coming on Sunday 29th September.

The Hertfordshire Wedding Fair

The Hertfordshire Wedding Fair, St Albans is Hertfordshire's premier wedding fair and is the county's oldest county wide wedding fair.

Click here to read The Hertfordshire Wedding Fair.

Property performance over the last decade

 

Now that we are in 2020, looking back at the previous decade can help to shine a light on what we are to expect next in the property market. New research from Proportunity – a new equity loan startup firm – has shone a light on which properties have increased the most in value from 2010 to 2020.

Surprisingly, terraced properties have seen the greatest rate of growth nationally – with an average growth of 3.05%, compared to 2.9%, 2.35% and 2.33% for semi-detached, flats and detached properties respectively.

London has seen the highest rate of growth with the region’s averages outperforming most other parts of the country, with terraced properties in the capital of the country proving to be an outstanding investment decision. In the year 2000, the average price for a terraced property stood at £127,833 in London, however by the end of 2019 this had risen to £499,178 – a startling 290% increase.

“The 2010s were marked by the after-effects of the financial crisis, and then by Brexit uncertainty,” Vadim Toader, founder and chief executive officer of Proportunity, says:

“Despite these headwinds, we have largely seen growth across the board, but the clear winner is terraced housing – or more specifically, terraced homes in London – with buyers likely attracted to their historic characteristics and charm, as well as their limited supply, compared to new builds.”

If you are considering investing into a property this year, then there are three key aspects to keep in mind in order to be successful;

1) Plan for success; know exactly who your audience will be when you let the property out, or sell it on.

2) Gain a mortgage in principle; this will enable you to move quickly as investment properties will often have heightened levels of competition around them.

3) Work with a good estate agent; a reputable agent will be able to advise you on everything from the right area to invest in, to the potential yields you will be able to reap.

 

 

Region Name	flat CAGR 2010-2019	terr CAGR 2010-2019	semi CAGR 2010-2019	detached CAGR 2010-2019
East Midlands	0.74%	1.78%	2.11%	2.25%
East of England	2.62%	3.47%	3.59%	3.07%
London	4.93%	5.07%	4.33%	3.06%
North East	-0.50%	0.08%	0.47%	0.67%
North West	-0.04%	1.07%	1.43%	1.21%
South East	2.49%	3.40%	3.41%	2.84%
South West	1.34%	2.19%	2.35%	2.18%
Wales	0.50%	0.90%	1.01%	1.20%
West Midlands	0.65%	1.52%	1.96%	1.91%
Yorkshire and The Humber	-0.12%	0.91%	1.30%	1.32%
England and Wales	2.35%	3.05%	2.90%	2.33%

Saving for a house deposit

 

For most of us, the most expensive thing that we ever purchase will be a property, and the prospect of saving for that all-important deposit can be rather daunting. However, the key to saving for that lump sum is simply good financial preparation and making a few changes to your outgoings which should reap big rewards. Take a look through our handy hints and tips and you’ll be in that new home in no time.

Speak to an expert
If you have made the decision that you are ready to buy a property, then an excellent first point-of-call would be to speak to an expert, be that a financial planner, mortgage advisor or a savings expert in your bank. It is important to get a detailed overview of your personal finances and speaking to an industry expert will provide you with tailored advice which suits your lifestyle, as well as being given some proven strategies to help you to save. Whether you’re a saver or a spender, it is important to get in to the right mindset to save and starting the process by speaking to an expert is a sensible first step.

Make a move
With the cost of renting often leaving many with little money to save for a deposit, making a temporary move can be a key factor in achieving a sufficient deposit. More and more people are moving back in with their parents for a period of 6 to 12 months; often paying no rent and economising through saving on laundry and food costs. If living with your parents is a truly unbearable prospect, then finding a lodger to live with you will also aid you in that all-important quest for a deposit.

Know your options
Did you know that you could buy a property with just a 5% deposit? Knowing what schemes and grants are out there will most certainly help you to achieve a house deposit. The Help-to-Buy shared equity scheme allows you to purchase a home with as little as 5% deposit and the government or developer (this is available for new homes only) lends you the rest of the deposit. Shared ownership schemes involve purchasing part of a property and then renting the rest, and although you would still need a deposit to get a mortgage for the part of the property you are buying, the deposit would be considerably lower; for example, to get a 90% mortgage on a 50% share of a £150,00 property, you would need only £7,500 for the deposit.

Make your savings work harder
Naturally, any changes you make will have one similar goal – to help you in saving more money more quickly and making these savings work for you should be a top priority. Open an ISA and use your yearly cash allowance so you don’t pay unnecessary tax. If you don’t already have one, open a savings account and save what you can, even if you think the amounts you are saving are inconsequential, they will soon amount to a worthwhile value. Shop around and see which bank offers the best interest rate on your savings, don’t just take one out with your current banking provider as finding a good interest rate could go a big way to helping you reach your goal faster.

Saving for a deposit can seem like a tall order, so making some sound financial decisions will be the key in to being approved for a mortgage and taking a step on to the property market. Get yourself into the right mindset where you are aware of why you are making some financial changes, remember that they are all short-term, and you’ll see those savings growing faster than you could have ever hoped.

New Sales Agreed Reach Early March Levels

As the United Kingdom was plunged into lockdown, we saw property portals and online property websites reporting huge numbers of visitors and this online activity is now being translated into sales agreed. Zoopla are reporting a huge spike in sales agreed with current figures now matching those back in early March when the market was booming, showing that the property market in England is experiencing a true resurgence post-lockdown.

In the month following the reopening of the property market, up to 7th June, analysis shows that demand for housing was 54% higher than at the start of March, with new sales agreed having risen by 137% since the market reopened.
Interestingly, the higher the values of the property the greater the increase in the volume of sales agreed when compared to before the Coronavirus crisis. Home sales for properties priced £1m and above are 16% higher than three months earlier – this could be attributed to homeowners looking to trade up in terms of location or property size. The impact of the Coronavirus can be seen on the most searched terms for properties – with home offices and outdoor space now higher in buyers’ priorities.

Zoopla’s Director of Research and Insight commented:

“The rebound in housing demand over the last month is not solely explained by a return of pent-up demand.

“COVID has brought a whole new group of would-be buyers into the housing market.

“Activity has grown across all pricing levels, but the higher the value of a home, the greater the increase in supply and sales as people look to trade up.”

The analysis from Zoopla is supported by Rightmove’s recent data publication which revealed that 40,000 new sales have already been agreed since the market reopened – with the average asking price of properties up by an average of 1.9% compared to pre-lockdown.

Property expert Miles Shipside commented:

“Following the initial shock of the early reopening of the housing market, England is getting moving again with a boom in traffic on Rightmove,” said Shipside.

“There are no signs of panic selling or even a price dip. Some sellers who had agreed a sale before lockdown have been worrying that their buyer may try to re-negotiate with a reduced offer.

“On this evidence buyers may now be trying to exchange quickly, as there are signs of high pent-up demand and upwards price pressure, rather than downwards.”

First Time Buyers Property Search Guide

Those who have managed to continue saving during the coronavirus pandemic may be thinking of taking their first steps onto the property ladder and purchasing their first dream home. The good news is, mortgage lenders have reintroduced high LTV mortgages back to the market, providing first time buyers with a big boost to help in their property journey.  If you are one of the thousands of people who are looking to get on that first rung of the property ladder, then finding the right home can be a daunting process. However, we’ve included some advice below to guide you through the process so that you could be moving in to your first home in no time at all!

1) Know your limits
Starting your search with a clear idea of what you can afford is a key aspect in terms of finding the right home. Often, first-time buyers are so excited at the thought of starting their property search that they begin with expectations soaring. Knowing your financial limit is key; before you start your search, we would recommend having a mortgage-in-principal approved so that you know exactly what you can afford. In the current climate, a mortgage in principal can be a requirement prior to being able to go on a physical property viewing. This is to help reduce the number of people visiting properties. Starting your hunt by looking at homes twice your actual budget will only end in disappointment and will unduly extend your search – be realistic, set your limits and keep those finances in mind!

2) Mortgage Availability
More mortgage products have been made available in the market allowing first time buyers to consider property purchase with just 5 – 10% deposit. This is known as a high Loan To Value (LTV). Now that physical valuations and surveys can go ahead, more lenders are offering products to cater for first time buyers, such as Virgin Money and Barclays, but providers may restrict the number of applications per day to ensure their services can be maintained. Contact a mortgage adviser to find out your options.

3) Don’t go it alone!
One of the biggest mistakes that first-time buyers make is trying to manage the whole process alone. Finding a good estate agent who will help you not only in the property search, but also during the financial process of buying a property, will be the difference between peace of mind and undue stress. Our sales team are happy to help with any questions you may have and can guide you through the entire process keeping you informed at each stage. Remember, it is the sole purpose of an estate agent to match properties with people, therefore as suitable properties are brought to market which suit your requirements you will be the first to receive property details if you’re registered with us – giving you the edge.

4) The physical viewing
When you are new to the property game, it can seem awkward to spend too long looking around; however, if you are serious about the property, it is important to stay as long as you feel you need to. One of the most difficult things to do when looking for a property, and often cited by even the most seasoned property purchaser as a difficulty, is to look past the current decoration. This can work in two ways; if you view a property with elegant decoration it is easy to fall in love with the aesthetic; however, keep in mind that the chic furniture will all be gone when you move in. The second way in which decoration can put a dampener on your search is that you dislike the taste of the current owners and can’t see through it. If you don’t like the presentation of a property, then try to look past the individual components such as curtains and carpets and instead focus on the bones of the room underneath; looking at the features of the room and the overall size as there could be a fabulous space just waiting to be uncovered.

 

Check everything around the property and ask plenty of questions about all of its features including electrics, windows, the loft. Having this in-depth look into the property will hone your mind onto the minutiae and take you away from the excitement of wanting to make an offer. If you feel like you still have more to see around the property then arrange another viewings; seeing the property at a different time will give you a better feel for the neighbourhood and your immediate neighbours.

5) Don’t take all of the credit
You have your mortgage-in principal, you’ve worked with an estate agent to find that perfect home within your budget and you have visited the property a couple of times. The dream is practically complete; you have that contract signed and the countdown to completion is on – so now you’re on the home straight to first-time property bliss. How to celebrate? A new car that will look lovely on your new driveway, a large television to adorn your living room wall or an expensive sofa to relax upon? Whatever happens, before your property purchase completes do not take out any other credit lines whatsoever as this could put the property purchase in severe jeopardy. Some mortgage lenders will pull one final credit report before completion in order to ensure that your status has not changed – taking further credit out will endanger this so wait until your purchase completes before splashing out the cash.

What To Consider Buying A House With Friends

Buying a house with friends can be particularly popular in younger people. It is an alternative route to getting onto the property ladder that could speed up your way to property ownership. However, there are many things to consider before deciding whether or not it is right for you. Continue below to find out all you need to know:

Joint mortgages
Joint mortgages are more affordable than having one on your own because you have a combined income that is assessed allowing you to borrow more. Up to four people can share a mortgage and most lenders will consider the top two incomes when working out borrowing eligibility. If you have varying contributions to the deposit, the equity can be calculated to factor this in, if preferred. Even though the responsibility is split for the mortgage repayments, you should carefully consider if your personal circumstances are ready for a mortgage. Considering things like job security, debt issues, and friendship compatibility should help you find out whether you are ready to take the plunge.

 

Advantages of buying with friends

 

Equity gain
You will be investing in yourself instead of paying rent to a landlord. If you and your friend have already experienced living together the transition should be even easier as you already understand how one another live. When you are ready to sell up, you will leave with financial gains too.

Share costs
All living costs will be shared, everything associated with the mortgage, as well as property maintenance and repairs that can often happen when least expecting it. This can provide added assurance for your property ownership.

Disadvantages of buying with friends

Impact on your financial record
Your credit score could be damaged if your friend misses a mortgage repayment. This is because mortgage repayments are a shared responsibility; if any of the group are unable to pay at any time, this can reflect badly on you by affecting your credit score. Be sure that you can trust the people you propose to share with. You could also end up having to pay their share to maintain the mortgage.

 

Impact on future loans
Having the option to buy a more expensive property is great, however it means that your full mortgage will be considered when trying to take out other credit loans. This could mean less favourable repayment plans for other investments.

 

If you are considering buying a property our friendly experienced team can give you all of the information you need and put you in touch with mortgage advisers to consider your options. Contact us to find out more.

Support For NHS Workers

Although the nation is no longer clapping every Thursday evening for our NHS workers, that doesn’t mean the gratitude has ended. There are many ways that support for NHS staff has continued as a thank you for helping our society in these difficult times. Companies across England have advertised NHS staff schemes and discounts to make life that bit easier for our key workers, and to show that their services are very much appreciated. The offers range from food discounts to free parking and have varying access requirements. We have shared some of these NHS offers below:

Supermarket discounts
Most supermarkets are continuing to use the first opening hours of the day to dedicate to NHS and other key workers for shopping so that they can purchase everything they need. As well as priority hours, many stores are offering discounted shopping including:

Morrisons – 10% off and extra points in store. They also offer free food boxes including home delivery (value of the box is £5)

Iceland – 20% store discount

Food Warehouse – 20% discount in store

Transport offers
There are many parking and transport companies offering discounts and free services to NHS workers to support them in travelling to and from work. These include:

NCP – free parking

NHS Trust Parking – free parking

Your Parking Space – free parking

Uber – 25% off all rides

Motorpoint - £300 off all vehicles and free home delivery

Food offers
Many food outlets are giving NHS staff a discount on food purchases. Details of how to claim the discount vary from using a special key worker code, to providing an NHS email address or identification card. The food outlets supporting NHS staff include physical stores as well as take away and delivery services. We have listed a selection of participating companies below:

LEON – 50% off

YO Sushi – 50% off

Hotel Chocolat – 50% off

LAS Iguanas – 50% food

Deliveroo – Deliveroo has delivered 100,000 free meals throughout June and is offering 70,000 £10 discount vouchers to NHS staff who have previously used the service.

We would personally like to thank all of the key workers that have worked tirelessly to help others during such a difficult time. The gratitude is never ending. If you are an NHS worker, please see the company websites for full details of support available to you.

A basic guide to decorating

 

Flick through the pages of any magazine these days or scroll through the popular Pinterest app and you’re likely to see endless images of chic properties with timeless décor. For those of us that are blessed to be able to colour-match and accessorise effortlessly, this is an entirely attainable vision; however, for the rest of us who are a little more challenged in the decorating department, it can be tough to know where to start. Read through our basic guide to decorating and we will provide you with some guidelines which are sure to help you turn your home in to a real page-turner.

Start scheming
So, you have decided to revamp a room, you’re excited and you just want to get the paint brushes out but hold on…you need to take a moment and think about what you really want! Taking a moment or two to plan will help to ensure that the effort you’re going to is really worth it, and having an overall concept will hold all of the interior elements together. Ask yourself what you like and dislike about the room currently and how you want the room to feel - cool and trendy or warm and welcoming? These simple questions will help you to focus in on how you’d like the end result to be and using apps such as Pinterest or Instagram will help you to decide on overall concepts. Creating a mood board for the room will help to streamline your ideas and will serve as a reference throughout the entire decorating process.

Stay in neutral
It may seem like a safe or unimaginative option, but neutrals are timeless when it comes to decorating. When you have a neutral palette to work with, you can layer colours and textures on top of the basic colour scheme in order to achieve your desired look. With new trends popping up seemingly every other day, having a neutral colour scheme allows you to easily change the feel of your room simply by updating the accessories and soft furnishings. You can also add in vibrant pops of colour to lift your room when using a more neutral scheme, with accent pieces such as side tables and upholstery offering some interest in to your colour palette.

Softly, softly
Soft furnishings can put the va va voom in to your room! Having strong accent pieces, as well as coordinated soft furnishings such as curtains, throws, pillows and rugs create a more coherent and cohesive atmosphere in a room. Rotating which soft furnishings you have in your room seasonally works really well to make your room feel up-to-date and contemporary; for example, using a blue rug and pops of yellow during the longer winter months, or some glittery cushions for the festive period. These pops of colour and print will have the desired outcome of a tasteful and chic room.

Simplify
Don’t be scared to leave spaces empty in your room. Horror vacui, a fear of empty spaces, is evident in so much of today’s culture with a tendency to want to display all of our knick-knacks throughout our homes. When you have gone to the effort to stylishly decorate your room, don’t ruin the hard work by then adding in too many objects; instead, let your decorating do the talking for you. If you want to display some of your own items, then ensure to group them and use the rule of thirds; group three objects together in a display rather than two. Groupings of objects which vary in heights, shapes and textures but are related to one another are the most effective for displays; for example, grouping three candles which are different heights but are the same colour.

When renovating a room, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, which is frequently why we shy away from decorating. However, we would recommend taking your time, planning your renovations carefully with a budget and enjoying the process – updating your home will add value to your property, after all, as well as giving you a beautiful home to relax in after a tough day at work.

First time buyers' guide to making an offer

 

If you’re a first-time buyer and have begun the hunt for your first home, you may think that once you’ve found the right one you simply offer what they ask for; job done! However, when it comes to making an offer on a home, there’s a bit more work that should go into it than simply offering the price advertised.

You need to be confident when making an offer that you’re not going to be stung by an inflated asking price or take yourself out of the running by offering too low. To help you prepare, we’ve put together the following information to help you through this stage of the home buying process.

Get some advice
The first step and arguably most important step you need to take is speaking to an expert. If you’re a first-time buyer, then you probably don’t have a wealth of knowledge on how the market works and what you can and can’t afford. Get in touch with a mortgage advisor, get informed on how it all works and more importantly, find out what your price range is so when you do make a formal offer you can do so with confidence.

Research the local market
Once you know how much you’ll be able to spend, it’s time to get a better understanding of your local market. The more research the better. Take a look at what’s up for sale and find out what your budget will get you in each area.

Build a list of key features that your home will need, such as the number of bedrooms or a driveway. The chances of you moving into your dream property with your first move are somewhat slim; however, it’s important that you know what you’re looking for and how much it will cost you in each area.

It would be wise at this point to get in touch with a local estate agent. You can do as much research as possible, but a good local agent will always be a benefit as they will know the market like the back of their hand. This means that they can fill you in on what to expect from vendors and hopefully help you avoid any pitfalls.

Get out there and book some viewings
Now that you’ve done your research on what you want, what you can afford and what the market has to offer, it’s time to book some viewings and get out there. Things can move very quickly in the property market, so your previous work and research leading up to this point will come in handy as there’ll be no time wasted travelling to unsuitable areas or over-priced properties.

While viewing properties, be sure to check out the building's structure and not just its décor. Check for any damage such as cracks in walls or damp. Make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting into and have a good idea of the current state of the home as it can help form your offer.

When you find the right home, be ready to act!
If you’ve managed to find the right home, then it would be best to act quickly as there’s a good chance you’re not the only one eyeing up that house. If you’re ready to make an offer, consider a few things before doing so. How much do other similar properties go for in the area? Does the property need some repairs? Have house prices dropped slightly since the home was first put on the market? We’d all love to knock a few thousand off the asking price, but the seller isn’t going to make such a concession easily, so if your offer is lower than the asking price, you’ll need to demonstrate why.

The Final Steps
Now before you finally put your offer on the table, try and organise all the other pieces of the puzzle beforehand so you are ready to go as soon as it’s accepted. If you’re a first-time buyer then one of your major benefits is that you don’t have to organise selling your own home, but if you can organise such things as surveys and solicitors then it’ll make the process much smoother.

Puppet Theatre: Beastly Belle 

Be charmed and surprised by a new twist on an old tale, inspired by the iconic era of 1920s and 30s cinema.

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The Serpent's Tale, hosted by Water Gardens

Join the wild and wonky May Queen to discover The Serpent's Tale - an original play on Saturday 28th September. 

Click here to read The Serpent's Tale, hosted by Water Gardens.

Should you pay off your property's mortgage early?

 

New research from financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown has shown that one in six of us who have purchased a property will either be over 65 by the time the mortgage is fully paid off, or the loan will never be fully paid off. The question stands, therefore, as to whether you should pay your mortgage off early or not?

As the average age of homeowners creeps upwards, and first-time buyers are entering the marketplace beyond 30 years old, the prospect of entering into retirement with a mortgage still to pay is going to be a reality for many. Research conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority supports this notion, with the FCA forecasting that 40% of first-time buyers in 2017 would still be repaying their home loans at 65.

First and foremost, do your sums to see whether you have anything to worry about in the first place. If you are going to be receiving a healthy pension anyway, then the prospect of continuing mortgage payments may not be anything to worry about. On the other hand, if you are going to be on a lower income than you’re currently accustomed to, then mortgage payments may well prove to be a stretch. If this is the case, here are a few options to help you pay that mortgage off sooner:

Overpay whilst you can
Speak with your mortgage provider to see when your prospective final payment is, and use this to incentivise yourself to pay early when you can afford it. Many mortgages will not charge you for overpaying, instead embracing the higher payments so double-check with your provider and overpay in order to bring forwards that final payment date.

Consider remortgaging
With interest rates at record-low levels, many borrowers are now considering remortgaging in order to obtain a more favourable mortgage. Eventually, you will be moved onto your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) if you do not remortgage or move onto a different deal during your mortgage term. Avoid these less favourable mortgage rates which will extend your mortgage term, and you could slice years off your repayment schedule just by switching providers or plans.

Reduce your mortgage term
Rather than overpaying on your current mortgage plan, reassess your financial status to see what you can really afford now. You will most likely be in a different economic position now to when you first purchased your property, and potentially able to afford higher repayments. If this is the case, and you are likely to remain in a stable position for the foreseeable future, then reducing your term and increasing your monthly payments is a guaranteed way to pay off your mortgage more quickly.

Help to Buy - what are your options for purchasing a home?

 

If you’re a first-time buyer looking to purchase a property, then you’ll almost certainly be aware of the Help to Buy scheme and its success in helping people get onto the property ladder. What you may not be aware of is how the scheme works, and how it helps buyers to secure deposits for homes that would otherwise be out of their reach.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a rough guide to how Help to Buy works.

Can you get a sufficient deposit together?
Most standard mortgages require a deposit of at least 5% of the value of the home you want to purchase. If you are able to get the capital required, then you may not need to apply for any scheme.

Equity Loans
If your deposit doesn’t stretch that far, however, never fear! This is where Help to Buy comes in. If you have a 5% deposit, you can apply for an equity loan for purchasing new-build properties. The Government will lend you up to 20% of the property’s price, but you’ll have to start paying interest on that loan after five years.

For example, should you purchase a £200,000 house, you’d pay £10,000 (5%), get a mortgage for £150,000 (75%) and the Government would loan you the remaining £40,000 (20%).

ISAs
If you’re still saving for that all-important deposit, then a Help to Buy ISA is available to you, with the Government adding 25% on top of the value of your savings, with up to 2.6% interest tax-free. A word of caution; if you’re considering this option, then you would need to apply for your ISA prior to 30th November this year. Click here to learn more.

Shared Ownership
If you can’t stretch your finances to be able to afford the entirety of a mortgage, Shared Ownership provides you with the opportunity to buy a share of your home (between 25% and 75% of the property’s value) whilst paying rent on the remaining share. You can also buy bigger shares in the property once you’re able to, offering you flexibility for the future whilst owning a significant stake in the home you wanted.

Purchasing a home doesn’t have to be beyond any first-time buyer. Speak to our financial experts about your Help to Buy options and find out how you can finally buy the property of your dreams.

Tales From Beyond the Grave - performance workshop

Enjoy a spell-binding performance which brings local history to life this Saturday at Rectory Lane Cemetery. 

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Just A Cappella Singing Group

Just A Cappella is a mixed voice group, who love singing in harmony together and are friendly and sociable.

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