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KEYWORD "Speculation" - 100 RESULTS
Property Natter: Will first-timers be thrown a Budget lifeline?

The expected dip in mortgage rates following the Bank of England’s base rate cut continued this week with NatWest’s lowest price...

17 August 2024

From: Features

Labour tax threat could derail housing market recovery - warning

A prominent financial analyst is warning that the hopes for a housing market resurgence over the autumn could be derailed by...

08 August 2024

From: Breaking News

Ambitious Labour may hit homes target if rates come down

There is no doubt that the residential market in the UK slumped last year. Transactions were at around 1 million, whereas...

27 July 2024

From: Features

Clarity needed on Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill report

Last weekend a story by The Sunday Times’ Deputy Political Editor indicated that the Government is proposing implementing a £250 cap...

27 April 2024

From: Features

Mortgage rates hit six month high after recent bank hikes

An analysis by Rightmove reveals that the average interest rate for a two year fixed mortgage at 95% loan to value...

25 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Foxtons could sell to Dexters for £300m - press speculation

A shareholder of Foxtons believes the agency could be worth £300m if sold today - substantially above its existing market capitalisation...

22 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Property Natter - What a difference a year makes

As 2023 trundles towards the buffers and we look forward to our Christmas break, it is something of a seasonal phenomenon...

23 December 2023

From: Features

The Housing Market and the Election - Does It Matter Who Wins?

The factor most likely to influence the housing market next year is entirely outside the industry’s control: the General Election. Knight Frank...

16 December 2023

From: Features

Knight Frank: Lending outlook improves but risks remain

The lending outlook is improving for the housing market but psychological milestones remain, Knight Frank warns. The latest UK market commentary from...

20 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Cut speculation starts 'election housing market' - claim

The best way to judge the UK housing market is to check on what’s happening in Parliament, not the price indices...

31 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Pressure mounts for stamp duty cut across UK

A proposed cut in stamp duty by the Westminster government would be a welcome boost to homebuyers and would need to...

27 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Knight Frank lowers house price expectations after ‘volatile summer’

Knight Frank has revised its house price forecasts and now expects a steeper market drop. The agent previously predicted a 5% fall...

02 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Jonathan Rolande: Nothing changes, now we live in hope of better days ahead

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande reacts to the shock but much-needed pause in interest rate rises. I suspect you, like me,...

25 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Is Rightmove driving towards acquisitions?

Rightmove’s half-year results were backed by analysts last week and even prompted speculation that it could be on the acquisition trail. Its...

31 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Speculation about Gove future as reshuffle likely in September

It may be all change - again - at the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Local Government if media speculation...

17 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Knight Frank: Air is (slowly) coming out of the prime property market

The air is slowly coming out of the prime London property market, Knight Frank claims but the agent has said it...

29 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Pressure grows for mortgage support fund

MPs have urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to hold an emergency summit in Downing Street with banks and mortgage lenders to...

15 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Mystery as major Purplebricks backers sell shareholdings

Two major Purplebricks shareholders have sold their stakes in the beleaguered brand, raising speculation over who they have sold to. Regulatory filings...

11 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Could your company culture withstand a crisis?

The UK is on its rear - fact. Whilst many were breathing a sigh of relief after surviving a global pandemic,...

29 April 2023

From: Features

Smoove confirms takeover approaches

Smoove has confirmed press speculation that it may be up for sale. The agency and conveyancing software provider issued a stock market...

25 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Homeowners ‘more open to downsizing’ amid higher living costs - claim

Higher energy costs and rising interest rates are leading to a surge in the number of homeowners looking to downsize, a...

24 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Keller Williams ‘realigning market centre leadership’

Keller Williams (KW) UK has shifted around responsibility for its market centres amid speculation of closures. The self-employed agency brand’s Aspire market...

20 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Portal boss: Property market remains active for ‘realistic’ sellers

The property market is still active for ‘realistic’ sellers and serious buyers, OnTheMarket (OTM’s) claims. Jason Tebb, chief executive of the portal,...

18 January 2023

From: Breaking News

Elon Musk and Blue Ticks - why Twitter matters to the industry

I’ve been on Twitter for a decade and have 23,500 followers - a gratifying number and of those a couple of...

12 November 2022

From: Features

Property Natter – property is holding its own despite the turmoil

I can’t really write about anything else this week, can I? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have...

22 October 2022

From: Features

Stamp duty cut to remain as Hunt scraps mini-Budget

The new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has reversed almost all of the tax cuts set out in Kwasi Kwarteng's disastrous mini-Budget three...

17 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Fast decisions! One in three properties receive an offer one hour after viewing

Despite all the recent speculation surrounding the housing market after the badly-received mini-Budget and regular talk of a possible slowdown, new...

06 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Insight – what impact will the economic tug-of-war have on the property market?

With the Treasury and the Bank of England stepping in to try and calm the markets, talk of an emergency interest...

28 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Should the BoE hike up interest rates this week? Experts give their view

Recent months have seen interest rates rise from historic lows back closer to pre-financial crisis levels as the Bank of England...

02 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Rishi-Tweedle-Dum and Liz-Tweedle-DumDum

When it comes to housing policy, the Conservative MPs have given their party a choice between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle DumDum. Rishi...

23 July 2022

From: Features

Opinion: Bank of England rate rises are nonsense and will increase inflation

The Bank of England’s continued rise in interest rates – the latest being a shift up to 1.25% - is, in...

25 June 2022

From: Features

Rental reform - why it'll make inventories more important than ever 

In this weekend feature, inventory expert and chair of the AIIC, Daniel Evans, sets out why rental reform changes will make...

02 April 2022

From: Features

The Coming ‘Budget’ - What’s In Store For Agents?

If you want to sex-up the Chancellor’s financial statement scheduled for lunchtime on Wednesday, you’d call it a Budget or a...

19 March 2022

From: Features

Predictions 2022 - an interview with Simon Shinerock

Peta Milne, founder of Instagram growth and PR service Monimo, and a content writer at Choices Estate Agents, recently sat down...

05 March 2022

From: Features

Will Purplebricks quit stock market or 'do a Countrywide'?

Seven years after it launched on the London Stock Market, speculation continues that Purplebricks may be about to de-list and return...

15 February 2022

From: Breaking News

2022 - agents can benefit from planning ahead and having a plan B in mind

Without doubt, 2021 was an exceptional year in the property market, with the stamp duty holiday and favourable market conditions helping...

05 February 2022

From: Features

HS2 - is the Midlands likely to benefit more than anywhere else?

As debate rages over levelling up and a north/south property divide, in the first of a new monthly column, property expert...

05 February 2022

From: Features

Let the good times roll – PayProp predicts continued lettings strength in 2022

The lettings sector looks set to steam ahead in 2022 after a record-breaking 2021, despite the financial and mobility challenges of...

22 January 2022

From: Features

Purplebricks denies sell-off rumour

Purplebricks has this morning said that a newspaper report over the weekend, claiming part of the business is to be sold...

04 January 2022

From: Breaking News

Property Natter – the A-Z of property for 2021 

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas – just a week to go now. Presents all wrapped and...

18 December 2021

From: Features

Mortgage trends and interest rates - what could happen in 2022?

As 2021 draws to a swift close, there is much speculation about what 2022 will have to offer. Despite the emergence of...

18 December 2021

From: Features

Cyber-Attack: Agents must learn from Simplify IT catastrophe

Agents must have a robust plan in place in case they are subjected to a ransomware cyber attack, says the Guild...

23 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Police probe conveyancing cyber-crash as it begins third week

The police have been called in to investigate the ongoing cyber-security incident which has led to many firms in the Simplify...

22 November 2021

From: Breaking News

The EPC - how it’s defied sceptics, critics and Brexiteers

I’ve never written the three letters ‘EPC’ more often than I have in the past week. Law changes for the private rental...

13 November 2021

From: Features

Conveyancing Crash: Mystery surrounds how and why it's ongoing

Conveyancing firms in the Simplify Group, hit by a massive systems crash for much of this week, say they are working...

12 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Budget 2021 aftermath - did the chancellor target property for tax revenue? 

In the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 27 October, very few impending tax hikes were revealed by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak –...

06 November 2021

From: Features

Foxtons appoints former Hamptons man following 'investor pressure'

Following speculation overnight, Foxtons - one of London's leading and most high-profile agencies - has this morning announced the appointment of Nigel Rich CBE...

17 September 2021

From: Breaking News

Revealed - What Agents Should Watch For This Autumn

I’m sorry to break this to you but in 10 days’ time it will be autumn - and we will have...

21 August 2021

From: Features

Capital Gains Tax threat returns - property “disposals” warning

A leading tax expert is advising investors to “plan your disposals” after new Capital Gains Tax figures have raised speculation of...

06 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Property Natter: half-year review – what has 2021 brought so far?

Well, we’re technically more than halfway through the year already, but we’ll let that slide. And what a year it’s been...

31 July 2021

From: Features

Foxtons considering selling its mortgage business

An announcement by Foxtons this morning says it is considering future options for its mortgage business, Alexander Hall. The announcement - made...

21 July 2021

From: Breaking News

New property tax demanded by MPs who want more money for councils

A group of MPs has suggested the government consider a “proportional property tax” to replace the current council tax, in a...

20 July 2021

From: Breaking News

Exclusive: “There’s no crisis at Propertymark” says new CEO

Nathan Emerson, the new chief executive of Propertymark, says his mission is to make the organisation more transparent - and to...

25 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Fears grow of Capital Gains Tax changes to be unveiled next week

There is growing speculation that a raft of tax proposals to be unveiled next week will include reform of Capital Gains...

19 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty extension revealed by Chancellor Sunak

Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the stamp duty holiday on properties up to £500,000 will be extended from March 31 to June 30; from...

03 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Budget Briefing: Four things to watch for in today’s Budget

Today’s Budget is the most eagerly-anticipated for many years, as it juggles to shore up the economy with the longer-term issue...

03 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Stand by for Capital Gains Tax changes later this year - experts

Tax experts suggest the widely expected reform of Capital Gains Tax is unlikely to be announced in tomorrow’s Budget - at...

02 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty clarity must be Budget priority says top agent

A leading agent says the worst thing that could happen with Wednesday’s Budget is if the Chancellor does not deliver on...

01 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Every Stamp Duty cliff-edge fall-through costs an agent over £4,000

New research from Propertymark suggests a typical fall through costs an agent £4,123.  The association says that if the stamp duty holiday...

26 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Foxtons in talks to buy rival London agency chain

Foxtons is in talks to takeover rival London agency Douglas & Gordon. A statement from Foxtons to shareholders this afternoon says: "Further to...

22 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Biggest stamp duty savings identified by estate agency

A study by estate agency Coulters has revealed which areas of the country make the biggest savings courtesy of the stamp...

22 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Dexters wins private equity investment - NO it’s NOT been sold

Wild speculation about the sale of Dexters yesterday turned out to be plain wrong - and instead the company has landed substantial investment. Oakley Capital, a...

19 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Game Over for Propertymark? What future after shock resignations?

Members of Propertymark are left wondering today what if any future there is for the industry’s trade body. The shock resignation yesterday...

18 February 2021

From: Breaking News

It’s time to stamp on stamp duty speculation

You can always tell when Budget day is approaching. There’s lots of comment from every imaginable quarter about what the Chancellor of...

13 February 2021

From: Features

New Property Tax Grab: Wealth tax supporters repeat call for levy

A group that last year floated the concept of a one-off wealth tax - which would include taxing main homes as...

03 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Boomin dismisses speculation of ‘direct sales’ cutting out agents

Boomin has denied that it will ever allow direct property sales, cutting out estate agents. Founder Michael Bruce says the new service...

29 January 2021

From: Breaking News

You guessed it…10 things to watch for in 2021

Here’s hoping you managed to have as good a Christmas and New Year as Covid rules allowed. Journalism in early January is...

02 January 2021

From: Features

Coup for agency with fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 show

One of the country’s most exclusive agencies, UK Sotheby’s International Realty, was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary last evening. The...

29 December 2020

From: Breaking News

Budget date is in time for U-turn on stamp duty holiday extension...

The next Budget will be held on March 3 next year - in time for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to change his...

18 December 2020

From: Breaking News

2020 - The year of Boomin?

The agency industry may look back on this year and say: “Well...to be honest we didn’t really see it coming.” No, no,...

28 November 2020

From: Features

Sunak pledges new homes but does not hike property tax - yet

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has resisted changing any property taxes in the short term, but has used his Spending Review statement to...

25 November 2020

From: Breaking News

Sunak’s Big Day: “Don’t make knee-jerk property tax rises” he’s told

Today sees the government’s Spending Review, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak taking centre stage as he presents a 12 month spending plan to...

25 November 2020

From: Breaking News

Fears grow over lockdown impact on transactions

The national lockdown beginning on Thursday makes the case for an extension to the stamp duty holiday, according to a tax...

03 November 2020

From: Breaking News

Redundancies and branch closures continue at Countrywide

An extensive culling of branches and staff continues apace at Countrywide as it significantly reduces the size of both its office...

29 October 2020

From: Breaking News

He’s back: ARLA’s David Cox joins Rightmove as compliance chief

David Cox is joining Rightmove next week in a dramatic return to the industry. Cox left the ARLA Propertymark in late July after...

28 October 2020

From: Breaking News

SDLT holiday could be tapered or restricted to first timers - top agent

One of Britain’s most respected agents is suggesting Chancellor Rishi Sunak could ‘taper’ the stamp duty holiday to avoid a cliff-edge...

28 October 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp duty: 'Zero likelihood' tax rise for overseas buyers will be scrapped

A tax expert says that there is 'zero likelihood' of the government changing its mind on stamp duty changes for overseas...

15 September 2020

From: Breaking News

Property Natter: why haven’t the Big 4 tech firms got involved with property?

For a number of years now, predictions have been made that one of the major tech giants will eventually enter the...

12 September 2020

From: Features

Bank of Mum and Dad still vital to house sales, figures show

Recent speculation that the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad would be playing a reduced role in the housing market has...

02 September 2020

From: Breaking News

Redundancies at OnTheMarket ‘under consideration’ admits portal

OnTheMarket has confirmed it is “considering” making redundancies - the second of the large portals to be in this position. Rumours have been...

03 August 2020

From: Breaking News

People quitting London for the country is overstated, suggests Zoopla

Zoopla says while there may be speculation about people fleeing London and big urban areas for the countryside, the evidence suggests...

28 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Face Coverings in Branches - agents given new guidance

New guidance on face coverings for agents working in branches, and for those dealing directly with visitors, was issued last evening. A statement...

24 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks founders reveal name of new ‘portal’ project

Purplebricks founders Michael and Kenny Bruce have revealed the name of their new property venture.  It’s to be called Boomin. There are still few specific...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Capital Gains Tax Threat: new warning it could hurt housing market

Large scale increases in and changes to the Capital Gains Tax regime could seriously hurt the housing market, a senior figure...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Capital Gains Tax - could it be applied to first homes over £500,000?

Speculation is mounting that Capital Gains Tax could for the first time be applied to gains made when owners sell first...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

A new portal? Purplebricks founder launches project with ex-Reapit boss

The founder of Purplebricks, Michael Bruce, has this morning revealed his new project to be called Launch B - and he...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks' founders reveal new project to re-enter the agency industry

The brothers who founded Purplebricks - Michael and Kenny Bruce - have returned to the agency industry for the first time...

09 June 2020

From: Breaking News

OnTheMarket names the day for reporting accounts and members

OnTheMarket is to issue its annual figures next Thursday, June 11. The report only covers the portal company’s financial year which ended...

05 June 2020

From: Breaking News

Property Natter - what will agent offices look like post-lockdown?

There has been much speculation about when agents will be allowed back to work, and what the new office working environment...

09 May 2020

From: Features

Three reasons why estate agency should be first out of lockdown

The coming week’s stories in the mainstream media - inevitably focused on Coronavirus - will be dominated by two things. Firstly there...

02 May 2020

From: Features

Property Natter: a week in the life of…agents in lockdown!

Lockdown measures are still in place for another two weeks, at least, with the possibility of them being extended beyond that....

25 April 2020

From: Features

Change - The key to unlocking demand after the lockdown

If it’s really the case that estate agents’ offices could be in the category of High Street premises first allowed to...

18 April 2020

From: Features

Disaster for Countrywide as LSL pulls out of takeover talks

In a very brief announcement to the City and to its shareholders this morning, LSL Property Services made clear that it...

16 March 2020

From: Breaking News

Top agency rocked by large number of senior figures quitting

Estate Agent Today understands that the Knight Frank agency has been hit by a large number of branch office heads quitting...

16 March 2020

From: Breaking News

Mystery surrounds top agents quitting firm's landmark branch

Estate Agent Today understands that three senior figures have departed from a key central London branch of Knight Frank. Each of them was...

06 March 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty change set to take centre stage in Budget next week

Increasing numbers of reports suggest that the government will use next week’s Budget to confirm a three per cent stamp duty...

05 March 2020

From: Breaking News

Confirmed: Countrywide admits ‘mega merger’ talks with LSL underway

Countrywide and LSL Property Services have this morning confirmed that talks are underway about a possible mega-merger. This confirms the speculation yesterday that...

24 February 2020

From: Breaking News

Key Countrywide agency chief quits firm after reorganisation

Estate Agent Today can reveal that one of the most senior figures in Countrywide’s upmarket John D Wood and Hampton International brands...

12 February 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents’ Compulsory Qualifications: politicians to meet group this week

The chair of the working group introducing mandatory examinations and qualifications for estate and letting agents says senior politicians will meet...

04 February 2020

From: Breaking News

Revealed - the agent posting Instagram pictures of clients’ houses

The high-end estate agent who has quit his post after being found to have posted pictures of clients’ houses on Instagram...

23 January 2020

From: Breaking News

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