The closer we get to the end of 2017, the more predictions we are going to have about the future. Analysis of the past year will result in a series of easy-to-tell forecasts about 2018.
The first in line is the anticipated growth of 2.5% for the mainstream property market…
Photo source: Quartz http://bit.ly/2lHOBJv
Commuting to work is a usual practice for those living near a big city that have jobs in the city. It seems easy to do at first, but after just a few months it can be a real problem and a big cause of stress.
Lydia Smith, a UK journalist, wrote about her experience a beginner freelance and how commuting daily from London to Manchester affected her emotional and professional life. This is an eloquent example of how commuting impacts the worker.
Recent studies showed common problems that appear at commuters like:
That ’20 minutes to work’ might not seem much, but going past some time limits can have some long-term effects on you. Think about this when you choose commuting.
And don’t forget that you can actually change something to make yourself feel better: the workplace, or the place you live.
Photo source: ThisOldHouse http://bit.ly/2gPe4ve
The days are getting shorter and day-by-day we can enjoy lesser sunlight. Winter is coming, as they say, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy every bit of the sun these days.
Create yourself a small comfortable spot near the windows and you will be able to load yourself with vitamin D daily.
We found some interesting ideas in this article on ThisOldHouse.com:
What do you fancy? A bay-window daybed, a sofa bed, or a built-in pillow space with a lot of storage?
Any of these in-the-sunlight options will look great in your home and you will be able to make the most of every minute of daylight. Well, also, starry nights are going to mean more to you than just sleep!
Good news for future sellers! During the last couple of year, the rhythm of selling has grown faster and faster. The average period for signing a sale is now 61 days, depending, of course, on the region the property is located.
You want to know how many days you will have be looking for a buyer so you can plan accordingly, so read this article on Property Wire to find out which regional cities are the fastest and which have the slowest rhythm.
Photo source: MetroUK http://bit.ly/2gPe4ve
Living outside London is definitely cheaper. Apparently, the further away, the smaller house prices are. Here’s the math:
60 minutes to the city = minus £480,000 off the property price
40 minutes to the city = minus $372,255 off the property price
20 minutes to the city = minus £299,328 off the property price
So choose how much time you are willing to spend on the road and make your savings budget!
Photo source: Zero Waste Home http://bit.ly/2hc5rv2
First steps for a environmentally friendly life is waste reduction. The biggest part of household waste is made out of recyclable materials or, worse, of things that are not recyclable and are bad for the environment.
Those who want to be more careful about their impact on the environment can some type of efforts, even starting with their homes.
More ideas of how to recycle around the home you can find in these articles:
We also found a nice initiative for a grocery store to reduce use of waste. Look at what they proposed to their customers.
In this everyday expanding world, the need for space is simply intensifying. More compact and smaller are key characteristics of future houses.
And, if it is ‘movable’ too, then it is probably perfect.
There are a lot of tiny houses that can be in the top for their design and unique use of space. Here are some examples of small houses that blend in perfectly by being unintrusive in the space they were built (or moved to).
However, one special project drew our attention: Elsa, the 323 square feet house with a greenhouse included. The ‘entire’ house was developed and designed by Olive Nest Tiny Homes. It might be small, but it has one of the most spacious interior design we encountered.
Elsa can be moved around and it fits in all of the settings one might think of. The porch and the mini-greenhouse are dreams came true for gardeners and traditionalists.
Photo source: Flickr http://bit.ly/2h96zzD
London is in top 5 most expensive cities for investors looking to put their money in office buildings. Recent study shows that the average price for 1 sqm in an office building in London is around 1 717 GBP, while Hong Kong tops the world chart with an offer of 6446 GBP for 1 sqm.
One would think that landlords are always in the better position when contracting. However, being a property owner has its risks and it can be difficult to handle them when you are a beginner in this type of transactions.
Property Division made a guide of 12 questions every landlord should ask themselves at one point:
1. Should I Tell My Mortgage Lender I’ll Be Letting My Property?
2. What Is the Right to Rent?
3. Should I Register the Deposit?
4. How Can I Prevent Property Fraud?
5. Is the EPC Mandatory?
6. Do the Gas, Electrics and Furniture Need to Be Compliant?
7. Is an Inventory Worth It?
8. Do I Need Insurance?
9. Do I Have to Pay Council Tax and Income Tax?
10. Can I Make Routine Property Visits?
11. When Should I Do an Inspection?
12. Who Should Contact the Council and Energy Suppliers?
Read the answers carefully and you are sure to have some more questions at the end of the article, if you are a landlord. But at least you know what to start with.
Except if you are one one the lucky few that manage selling really fast their house, we can guarantee you one thing: the process is stressful. It goes for the sellers and for the buyers, as well!
The entire process was the subject of a study and it seems that both parts implied feel the stress. But there is also some dissatisfaction with the real estate agents…
Making things easy for the sellers is difficult. The buyers can, however, be helped. In their case, the Government promises to try to ease up the process.
If things are going smoother for those searching for a home, there is still one most stressful thing: the decision itself. Making up your mind and coming at peace with what you choose is crucial before buying.