Property news: Kids unveil their creative side & demand at its highest since 2009
New community initiative sees kids unveil their creative side
Local children have been displaying their creative talent in a picture competition devised by Brilliant Brighton, Juice Fm and Austin Rees. Andrew Austin of Austin Rees explains more: “We are delighted to be associated with Brilliant Brighton and Juice FM. We have worked in conjunction with these companies and with the support of local school children.
“The idea was presented to us by Brilliant Brighton. The concept was to display banners in the most prominent roads advertising our companies and to involve school children of all ages who would be producing pictures of things which they associated with Brighton and Hove. The process of judging the first phase of pictures involved myself and Hannah Murphy.
I was impressed with the time taken by the local schools and the imagination of some of the children. The judging I found particularly difficult as all the pictures were excellent, full of life and colour. The chosen pictures are displayed on banners and these are seen by many people who visit the city. We are pleased to be involved in this initiative which involves the whole community, in particular, our children.”
www.austinrees.com
Demand at its highest since 2009
Members of the BHEAA are reporting a surge in demand in the local area. Many local estate agents have seen a 20 per cent increase on sales agreed compared to last year.
Recent information released from the Bank of England, RICS and the council of mortgage lending also suggests a
national upturn. The number of mortgages approved for house purchases in the UK crept up to a three-month high in April, Bank of England figures show.
There were 8,008 of these mortgages given the green light, up slightly on the previous month, and nearly 500 higher than the same month a year ago.
On Thursday, the Nationwide Building Society suggested that there was “momentum” in the UK housing market with sales and prices on the rise.
It said this was partly the result of the Funding for Lending Scheme which see cheap funds offered to lenders if this is then provided to individuals and business borrowers Demand for flats and houses in the UK rose to its highest level for three and a half years in April, according to an industry survey.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) also said that a majority of its members reported rising prices, for the first time since 2010.
Rics said that the government’s new housing initiative, Help to Buy, was one reason for the increase in demand. Separate figures have shown an increase in the number of first-time buyers.
“It is encouraging to see government initiatives are having an impact on the property market,” said Peter Bolton King of Rics.
“Help to Buy in combination with the Funding for Lending Scheme appears to be giving the market a shot in the arm,” he said.
The first stage of Help to Buy began last month. New borrowers are able to get a government loan of up to 20% of a property’s value, to help them get on the housing ladder.
A second stage will begin in January, when the government will guarantee mortgage payments.
www.bheaa.co.uk
