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What New Buyer's Want.

July 20, 2020

Whats on Your List?

Life in lockdown sees shift in buyers’ priorities

Life in lockdown has changed the priorities of home hunters, with more prospective buyers seeking outdoor space, larger kitchens and energy efficiency, according to new research.

A quarter of movers have changed their minds over the most important aspects of their future home since the pandemic hit the UK, an Opinium survey commissioned by house builder Redrow found.

Parents of children under 10 and couples who are expecting a baby are most likely to have shifted their priorities, the poll of more than 2,000 people revealed.

For 60 per cent of respondents, having access to private outdoor space, such as a garden, terrace area or balcony, will be the most important factor when choosing their next home. 

Meanwhile, 40 per cent will be looking for a home with a large kitchen and 29 per cent want a home that is highly energy efficient – perhaps prompted by the extra cost of having family members working from home during lockdown.

In London, 34 per cent of home movers said that high-speed broadband was important compared to the national average of 27 per cent.

Living within walking or cycling distance of work was important for for 22 per cent of respondents and for 45 per cent of those in London.

In terms of the surrounding area, access to green open spaces is a high priority for 35 per cent of movers, followed by proximity to smaller shops for 33 per cent and a doctor’s surgery for 32 per cent.

A quarter of those polled said that living in an area with a strong community was key, while 23 per cent said they would make a concerted effort to get to know their neighbours when they move.

More time spent indoors resulted in a boom in DIY projects – with 38 per cent of respondents attempting home improvements.

Redrow group sales director James Holmear says: “Lockdown has changed our lives dramatically. 

“More time spent in the home has made us reconsider how we use the space that we have, and how our homes can adapt to more permanent change in the future. 

“Even as more offices reopen, many people will opt to work at home, and people are planning to replace public transport with greener modes of community when they do commute.

“This change has translated to huge shifts in buyer preferences on the ground. 

“Now, we are experiencing more customers adapt their search to homes with extra space to work, and more people are looking for proximity to green space and local shops, over good schools, and cafes and restaurants.”

Source: Mortgage Strategy: 15th July 2020

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So, here we are half way through 2021 and the property market is still going crazy, I heard a story the other day about a first time buyer that went to view a flat in London and there were 10 other couples waiting outside, now that might not seem like much but it might just put you off selling up and moving. So, if you are going to "stay put" then it is time to think about if you can get a better rate for your current mortgage. With rates at all time lows and not much indication that they are going up anytime soon, this is your opportunity to save money. So if you are on a fixed rate that is going to end in the next 6 months then now is the time to get in touch and see if a better rate is available to you. If you are on the standard variable rate or a tracker and you want to see if a fixed rate is now worth it because the rates are so low then we can help to. We can even help you stick with the same lender and get you a better rate than the standard variable, so if you need quick action we can help there too. Contact Zoom Mortgage telephone 0800310121 email contactus@zoommortgage.co.uk .
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This story + many more are available in our 1st edition of the Zoom Mortgage and Property Magazine. Available for you for free here https://zoommortgage.lpages.co/zoom-mortgage-property-magazine THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) pandemic led to the virtual disappearance of mortgages that only required a 5% deposit. But the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on 3 March a new initiative during his Budget 2021 speech. The government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme is open to first-time buyers and home movers across the UK and is aimed at encouraging banks and building societies to offer 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages again. The announcement is tremendous news for first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder at a time when, for many, owning a home may seem an impossible dream as they would otherwise not be able to find a large deposit to secure a mortgage deal. GETTING ON THE HOUSING LADDER The announcement aims to stimulate the housing market and get more people onto the housing ladder. The Chancellor said there was good evidence that ‘this will help those that are getting on the housing ladder disproportionately to other home movers.’ He said: ‘We know from the previous time we did it, it helped 100,000 people buy a home and the average value of a home bought under the scheme was £160,000, compared to the average price of a home which at that time was more like £225,000. ‘And 80% were first-time buyers, so it feels like it is a policy that is quite well targeted to help people get on the housing ladder.’ ACROSS THE UK The government introduced the scheme for new mortgage applications which commenced from April and provides a guarantee to lenders across the UK that offer mortgages to people with a deposit of five per cent on homes with a value of up to £600,000. This scheme is for any ‘creditworthy’ household struggling to save for a higher deposit. These will be standard residential mortgages – so no second homes or buy-to- lets. If the borrower gets into financial difficulty and their property is repossessed, the government will cover that element of the lender’s losses. The scheme opened for new mortgage applications from April and will be open to new applications until December 2022. Several of the country’s largest lenders, including Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Barclays and HSBC, are offering these 95% mortgages, with others to follow shortly after. The mortgages must be on a repayment basis, not interest-only. And borrowers will need to be credit checked and meet the standard rules on affordability. All lenders under the scheme will also offer mortgages fixed for at least five years, providing options for buyers with smaller deposits who want the security and predictability of a mortgage with a fixed rate over a longer term. Eligible mortgages guaranteed under the scheme will need to: • be a residential mortgage (not second homes) and not buy-to-let • be taken out by an individual or individuals rather than an incorporated company • be on a property in the UK with purchase value of £600,000 or less • have a loan-to-value (LTV) of between 91% and 95% of the value of the property • be originated between the dates specified by the scheme • be a repayment mortgage and not interest-only • meet standard requirements in terms of the assessment of the borrower’s ability to pay the mortgage, for example, a loan-to- income and credit score test LIFELINE FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS Thanks to soaring house prices and tighter rules on mortgage approvals, the first rung of that famous property ladder can be very hard to reach. So the new government backed mortgage guarantee scheme will be a lifeline for those first-time buyers trying to get on the housing ladder. >> GET AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH YOU COULD BORROW << Are you ready to buy a property? You’ve dreamed of owning a home for as long as you can remember, or maybe you’re looking to move to another property. Now the new government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme could make it a reality. To discuss your options and get an estimate on how much you can borrow, contact Zoom Mortgage – telephone 0800310121 – email contactus@ zoommortgage.co.uk
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