before 2007 analysing property markets was a much simpler subject than it is today. Prices and demand rose year on year pretty much everywhere and at almost every level of the market. Then came the collapse of lehman brothers and the rest is history.

The peaks of 2007 are a distant memory and few would have thought back then that in 2012 we would be looking ahead and still expecting prices to be falling, demand to be slowing and economic uncertainty to be around the world once more. but the reality is that few real estate markets in 2012 are likely to be immune from a chronic lack of lending and weakened demand and sales. Here Ray Clancy, editor of Property Wire, looks at some key markets for the year ahead and analyses what might happen.

There are two main factors that will decide what will happen in global property markets in 2012, the eurozone crisis, which can only have a negative effect, and the growth of emerging markets in South America and Asia, and a general lack of lending in key developed markets such as the United States and the UK. But all could see a knock back if the euro currency breaks up. Indeed, revelations about the UK, for example, making plans to evacuate expats from Spain and Portugal if these countries leave the euro, and many other European Union member states saying they have contingency plans to temporarily shut their borders if the currency goes down the swanny, does not help. If you currently own a second home in Europe, are thinking of buying one, or are an investor or an expat with real estate in more than one country, such reports might seem alarming. But there have been riots in the streets of Athens and London in 2011 and it is only right that governments should make plans in case of the worst scenario happening.

Whether as a buyer, seller or an investor, you are concerned about these is very much a personal choice, but looking at the situation from a more optimistic point of view 2012 is going to be a great time to buy property around the world as prices continue to fall in markets like the US, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the UK. As many experts point out, there are plenty of bargains around. United Kingdom The UK residential property market is expected to be stable in 2012 with little change in prices overall although the economic outlook is uncertain.

Analysts expect the Bank of England’s base rate to remain at 0.5% throughout the year and although there will be weak economic growth, high unemployment and mortgage funding pressures there are a lot of positives as well. They point to affordability in the market place, a low lending rate, low levels of forced sales and a long term supply and demand imbalance as being good points for the year ahead. ‘The housing market has proved highly resilient in recent months despite the weak economic recovery and the significant deterioration in the outlook for both the UK and global economies,’ said Halifax’s housing economist, Martin Ellis.

News from  – kayandco.com/news/79/property-wire-january-2012.aspx

In the second half of 2011 confidence in the residential sales and rental markets in Midtown, City of london and Docklands was maintained in spite of the continued stream of negative economic news at the national, European and global levels. Price growth was experienced in the sales market in Midtown and the City, albeit prices were pegged in Docklands by local supply and demand factors. Overall, the rate of increase in prices at 3.5% across all three markets was at around half the rate seen in the first half of 2011. In the lettings market, rents rose in all three markets in response to shortages of rental stock and continued high levels of demand. 2011 was an excellent year for the Midtown, City and Docklands markets and the strength of the market was characterised by the following factors:

Cash buyers continued to account for 50% of purchases, while other buyers with cash were able to avail of mortgage finance at low rates of interest.

• The return of the 90% mortgage improved access to the sales market for first-time-buyers.
• The volume of transactions in both the sales and rental markets increased.
• There were high renewal levels for rental stock at increased rents, reducing voids for investors/landlords.
• Demand for land for residential development, with or without planning permission, was insatiable in 2011, leading to very significant growth in land prices.
• UK housebuilders returned to the market, seeing central London as ‘safe’ place to develop.
• There was continued evidence of successful off-plan sales in new development schemes.
• Developers continued to be able to access and benefit from private equity funding in the absence of conventional bank funding.

We all like to have a place where guests can stay the night. They is nothing more rewarding than having friends over and being able to say “we have plenty of room, stay over here tonight!”. But, for some of us, this could be a lie as we are not all blessed with lots of space.

If you are perhaps living in a flat or a small house you will probably not have a guest room, or even a spare room. In this case you may feel you have nothing to offer your guests. This is not the case; you can still find somewhere for them to sleep and there are plenty of guest beds that are easy to hide and then bring out when needed.

The first ideal guest bed for small spaces is the chair bed. It is exactly what it says it is, a chair that is also a bed. They tend to work in a similar way to a sofa bed, except on a smaller scale. The bed is folded up which makes the seat of the chair, you simply pull the folds apart and you have a very comfortable single bed.

A sofa bed is also a good guest bed for small spaces. You can have sofa beds that are easily as nice as a normal sofa, but you have the added advantage of it having a bed underneath. Pull it out and you have a good-sized double bed for your guest to sleep on in your living room.

Finally, you have the wonderful airbed. You no longer have the issue of hours and hours of pumping the thing up, as many airbeds are now built with a built in electrical pump. Just plug it in and watch it inflate. You then have a very comfortable bed on which your guest can find a corner in your home to sleep on.

Guest beds for small spaces are available at Dreams.co.uk, and they are a nice thing to be able to offer to your friends and relatives.

From 2-bed semi-detached homes to 4-bed townhouses with garages and contemporary 1 and 2-bed flats and apartments, all bases are covered in this London Borough. Luxury apartments in brand new developments such as Temple Court are particularly popular. These overlook Cranbrook Road and Kenwood Gardens and come complete with under floor heating, zone temperature control, high end fixtures and fittings, tiled flooring and allocated parking spaces.

Prices for luxury new homes in Redbridge that fall into the 2-bed flats and apartments category start at around £200k.

A 3-bed end of terrace family home overlooking Clayhall Forest is currently priced at around £400k.

There are also high end 4 and 5-bed detached new homes in Redbridge. These tend to be situated in small enclaves in quiet residential areas and are priced at around £500k.

At the spectacular end of the spectrum, you’ve got sprawling 7-bedroom end of terrace houses for sale in the desirable Beal School catchment area.
Living in Redbridge

Before viewing new homes in Redbridge, get up to speed on what it’s like to live in the area. If you’re looking to buy in an area close to Walthamstow, Wanstead, Leyton, Forest Gate and Stratford.

New homes in Redbridge are good for lovers of green spaces. Fairlop Waters Country Park, Clayhall Park, Seven Kings Park, Valentines Park and Wanstead Park are all within easy reach.

The travel links are good. Drivers can connect easily to the M11, A12 and A406 North Circular Road.

If you’re looking to live in an area with London Underground station, new homes in Redbridge will fit the bill. Redbridge is on the Central Line with stations at Redbridge and Gants Hill.

Redbridge is a pretty self-sufficient area and you can pick up everything you need day-to-day at one of the supermarkets or the Exchange Mall shopping centre, situated around 2 miles away in Ilford.

New homes in Redbridge are particularly attractive to young families, thanks in part to the area’s excellent schools, including Beehive Preparatory School, Redbridge Primary School and Beal High School.

Council tax is an expensive that can have a significant effect on your monthly budget. At time of writing, a band C property in Redbridge attracted an annual charge of £1249.20, in line with the national average of £1257.

Take a look at the My Homes Unlimited listings to view new homes in Redbridge for sale or to rent.

From  http://www.myhomesunlimited.com

Heard about one of the latest property trends to hit the UK? If you’re a homeowner with spare green space, you could be in luck. Rent your garden to campers and make some extra cash. With the London 2102 Olympics on the horizon and festival season in full swing, it makes sense.

This may sound a bit dodgy on the surface but I’ve looked into it and it’s all above board and legal. According to UK law, you can rent your garden to campers for up to 28 days per year and not fall foul of planning legislation. That’s summer sorted then!

There’s only one little niggle. In order to rent your garden to campers, running water has to be available.

Also, you will have to be prepared for noisy campers. However, in theory it’s a great idea. Homeowners can boost their incomes and holidaymakers cut their costs by avoiding pricey hotels and B&Bs. Everyone’s a winner.

Homeowners can keep it simple and just rent the space (that’s called bamping by the way!) or throw in extra services (glamping – or glamorous camping). Chuck in a picnic or breakfast and up the nightly charge. Why not?

If you do want to rent your garden to campers, check out the website Camp in My Garden. Move fast if you want to take advantage of their free registration. This trend is catching on in a big way and I’ll be surprised if it stays free for much longer.

At the moment, it’s the only online camping community in the world. I had a good look at the website and was pretty impressed. It’s a bit like Facebook for campers. Each member has a profile page and users can check out the facilities and comment on their experience.

The whole thing is still in its infancy but I predict big things for the future. Unless of course the powers that be step in and change the law. Jump on the bandwagon and rent your garden to campers while you can!

Young, Rich & House Hunting

Here’s a programme the average renter will love to hate! The BBC3 series Young, Rich & House Hunting turns the tables. Instead of looking at Britain’s first time buyers who are struggling to get to the first rung of the property ladder, it focuses on the rich kids with big budgets hunting for their ‘perfect pads.’

Despite making you want to throw stuff at the TV screen during the opening credits, Young Rich & House Hunting is entertaining viewing. It also makes a number of interesting points. Stay with me here, folks.

Yes, it does look at how the other half live. However, it also highlights a few interesting trends and shows that house hunting can be a great leveller. Unless you’ve got a bank account the size of a sultan’s, compromises need to be made and expectations kept realistic.

There are two ladies looking to share an apartment (not flat, that would be common). So far, so normal, right? Not quite. These two have a whopping £800k to spend. Although the budget is bigger than average, their reasons for sharing will strike a familiar chord. They want to join forces to buy the type of property they couldn’t afford if they bought separately.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bank of mum and dad is a big feature in the show. Young, Rich & House Hunting does after all primarily feature 20-somethings who come from serious money.

It also highlights the traps first time buyers can fall into. One couple are discovering that trying to buy furniture for a property you’ve only viewed once is inadvisable.
The show may have its faults and mild irritations but I was surprised by its valid points about the property industry. As one swimwear designer pointed out – if you can ride out the bad times, you’ll always make money in property.Give it a shot. It’s nice to see a house hunting show that isn’t about renovation and restoration.

From www.myhomesunlimited.com/blog

The price of an average home in the UK edged up by 0.1%, or £350, last month to £166,256, according to Nationwide. This is 0.3% lower than in September last year, but more than 12% higher than when the market troughed in early 2009.

The newly launched Knight Frank/Markit House Price Sentiment Index (HPSI), a leading indicator of house price movements, signalled that house prices across the UK would continue to slip downwards in the months to come. The index for future house prices highlighted the regional split across the UK, with households in the South East and London expecting price rises over the next 12 months. Households in the Midlands and North West expect prices to keep falling. The broad stability in the market over the last year has been underpinned by a shortage in the supply of new homes, and this trend is expected to continue for the rest of this year. But the darkening economic outlook, especially in the eurozone, is weighing on buyer sentiment. The recent run of party
conferences has also underlined the problems facing the UK economy, which could further impact confidence in the market.

Adding to the economic gloom was a recent large-scale revision of GDP data by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which showed
that the economy had really failed to kick into recovery mode and had been broadly stagnating for the last nine months. It also showed that the recession was sharper and deeper than had previously been estimated, punching a bigger hole in economic output.

However there was also some positive news this month, with a rise in the closely watched PMI indicator of activity in the services sector, which accounts for about three quarters of economic output, signalling that economic activity may have picked up towards the end of the third quarter.

From Knight Frank and Markit’s House , pl download more full report

The East London property market is on the way to recovery and this has made the buying of apartments and houses a profitable deal again.

Unlike in the year 2008, there are many more investors who are looking for houses to make their investments and also home buyers in the East London property market.
This transformation has happened to London a long way. Apart from the fact that a lot of new games places and facilities are being made, contractors are also building new houses and apartments for the housing property market to flourish. On the other hand, the facilities in the transport department are also going a good way.

One of the best places to the property market is the Hackney London propert market. Keeping this in mind, one can not forget that the supply in this market is not able to cope to the growing demand of the people. This is caused by many people looking for apartments in the city of London.

There are many developers who have reported forward sales in the East London market. This can be contributed to the fact that many builders are competing for more land space on which they intend to build apartments mainly, which is the demand in the East London properties.

The high prices in the East London property market is mainly due to the fact that the demand has exceeded the supply of houses and apartments. They are sky rocketing and thus people are not able to afford these houses.

There are a lot of parents who believe that their children will not be able to afford a home in the city and thus will opt to leave the town for somewhere cheaper. This is a report given by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

According to Stewart Baseley, “House building is vital to the economy. We already have a housing shortage [nationwide] approaching a million and are building less than any time since 1923.”The emergency budget that was announced recently by the government is not going to do a lot good to better the supply of houses and apartments.

Richmond is the London’s sought after suburb. It is a metropolis in western contra Costa state, California, US. The metropolis was incorporated on 7th august 1905. It is situated in the part of the San Francisco bay arena. Also, it is an inner town of San Francisco and place of heavy industry that has been having a shift towards a commercial and service economy from the 1970s. The city surrounds the metropolis of east Richmond heights, north Richmond and San Pablo. More importantly, Richmond is a family area with a lot of open space and good schools. The trouble free commute to the metropolis through waterloo means it pulls city bonus money. Furthermore, the most expensive and desirable roads are “Richmond green”. Here lord Attenborough have stayed for years.

If you’ve sat on front of a television for more than a few hours in the last year, you will likely have witnessed an advertisement for one of the many insurance comparison sites that analyze the UK insurance market. They are incredibly useful websites and certainly not a service that you should not avail of. There are however a number of means of establishing what insurance company is the best choice for you.

Insurance Comparison Websites

These sites offer their services in a completely impartial manner as they are not directly associated with any one insurance company. Such unbiased and detailed information makes them the ideal first choice for those looking to research the home insurance options open to them. As many types of searches do not require you to input detailed information, you can get a quick overview of the market in a matter of minutes.

Friends Recommendations

When it comes to anything insurance related, one of the fastest and most reliable means of getting a solid recommendation comes from simply asking around. Your neighbours are likely to be in similar positions to yourself, at least geographically and therefore a quick consensus of the most popular companies among them is likely to turn up some very solid advice.

Customer Review Sites/ Insurance Forums

The internet revolution has brought with it many nifty innovations and advantages, one of which is the advent of the endless amount of forums where the voices of those both pleased and less so with the services of various companies can be broadcast. Though a fancy website and marketing campaign can be bought, a solid reputation on sites like these certainly cannot. They are therefore an essential element of finding the best home insurance company for your needs.

In conclusion, though home insurance comparison sites are certainly useful when it comes to comparing home insurance providers, they are by no means the only means of doing so. And if you have much experience with the insurance market, you will agree that the more information you have, the less you pay in the long run.

Shifting is always considered to be the hassle task. That is why; mostly, people hire the services of removal companies. There are many removal services in London. All of them are offering different types of services at different rates. You can select any of these companies and make your shifting hassle free.

If houses are big and equipped with plenty of stuff, it would become difficult to pack items. It will require weeks to pack all the items properly. You have to wrap these items in a manner that it would not break. Unpacking will also become hassle because you will need to open each item separately. Plenty of time will be required for re-arranging the items. For solving this problem, removal services adopt special strategy. They ask you to draw proper plan before start packing.

The first thing they ask you to do is to list down all the packing items. They advise you to list down the items of each bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, garage, dining room, store room and sitting room; separately. Once listing has been done, then they guide you to put label on each packing box. They ask you to properly tag the items and place them in properly labeled box. This will make rearranging easy and simple. You just have to open each box in mentioned room.

Removal Company knows that what roads must be selected for transporting the goods. It is necessary to select those roads which have less traffic over it. Roads must also be clean and do not have any obstacles. They know how to drive over the long routes with heavy stuffs. Driver must have to keep his eye open for each and everything that is coming over the road. They drive the vehicle at the side of the road rather than driving in the centre. They have special license to drive the big trucks and have experience to drive over the long routes. They ask you to travel in your cars behind them.