New homes at Hempsted Park, Peterborough now available

If you missed your chance to buy a new home at Hempsted Park just outside of Peterborough, you can now find your dream home in Phase 2 of the development, which has just been launched.

With three and four bedroom family homes now available in a number of styles, you can view and reserve your new home by calling Will or Joan on 07826 914342.

In fact, if you reserve a four bedroom Leominster style this week, you will receive a £2,500 discount.   

The four bedroom Leominster at Hempsted Park (far right)

With prices starting at £180,995 for a three bedroom home with garage, what's not to like!

Find out more about this popular development. 

Mid-Century Modern. Remember the surfboard-style coffee tables and stylish Eames recliners of the early 1960s? They’re making a comeback. Iconic mid-century furniture is coming back into style. Although you’ll need a hefty budget to outfit your home with real Herman Miller furniture, more affordable items from brands like Ikea and Muji make this a surprisingly affordable trend to latch onto. - Smart Appliances. Smart appliances have grown from a technological fantasy into reality in surprisingly little time. From ovens and microwaves to Wi-Fi enabled fridges, an increasing number of new homes built in 2016 are outfitted with smart appliances and gadgets. - ‘Warm’ Metals. In 2016, ‘warmer’ metals like copper and gold are making a comeback in interior decorating, both as countertops and kitchen appliances. - Statement Mirrors. Mirrors went somewhat minimalistic for a while, but now, statement mirrors are making a comeback. From eye-catching modern mirrors to the old fashioned or avant garde, they’re great for adding unique style. - ‘Glamily’ living rooms now combine the function of a family room with a touch of glamour, using fabulous accessories, colourful throw covers or lamps and tables. - Mosaic tiles. While mosaic tiles have never gone out of style, they’be become a staple recently, in the bathroom, kitchen and even in the living room. Versatile and affordable.

Read more at: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/the-top-home-decorating-trends-of-2016-are-revealed-1-806097

Choose your new Larkfleet home

Yes, it's the final bank holiday of the year (where has the time gone?!) and if you don't fancy the endless queues for fish and chips at the seaside, why not diarise a bit of time for yourself and your search for a new dream home.

Most Larkfleet sites have a gorgeous showhome for you to spend as little time, or as much time, as you fancy enjoying a gentle peruse in what could potentially be your new forever home.

Open daily between 10am and  5pm, seven days a week (some times do vary), the showrooms are furnished and decorated using the latest designs and trends which will give you an authentic vision of just how good your new home can look.

As we can decorate many aspects of your new home to your own personal taste, visiting a Larkfleet showhome is a fantastic way to draw some good old fashioned inspiration.

Don't get us wrong, it's great to sit at the laptop and make your own personal interior design 'wish list' but you really can't beat real-life inspiration, plus it's actually really fun too! You'll also be able to see how you new furniture will look as all the homes are designed with real-life furnishings.

For further info, give one of our friendly sales team a call on 0845 450 7872.

See you there!

Plentiful career opportunities throughout the construction industry

A recent survey by the Scape Group, as reported by Builder magazine, outlines the need for more skilled workers in the construction industry. With wages rising at a rate three times the average annual UK rate of 2.4 per cent (as reported by the Office for National Statistics, ONS), opportunities exist throughout all levels of the industry.

The Greater Peterbrough UTC, which opens this September, is a state of the art, exciting new technical college based in the centre of Peterborough focusing on engineering and the built environment.  The college, which is supported by The Larkfleet Group as an employer sponsor, aims to become the school of choice for construction specialists of the future.

Students at the college will be aged between 14 and 19 years of age and will gain the skills and hands-on experience they need to start them on their career path in the construction industry.  Delivery of the courses will be a mix of work placements, work shops, mentoring, group and 1:1 work, with the emphasis being very much on the attainment of practical skills.

Karl Hick, CEO of Larkfleet, said:  "It has been clear for a while, and this is re-enforced by this recent survey,  that our industry needs advanced technical skills for the future.  As a company we are committed to expanding our support for training the next generation of construction professionals.   As an employer sponsor of GPUTC we are able to work with teachers to create projects that focus on real-life industry relevant challenges.  We are also able to offer students support through mentoring, work experience and access to our facilities here at Larkfleet."

Larkfleet Group speaks with future students at a recent GPUTC open evening

Plans for a motorway boost for Cambridgeshire

Plans for extending the A1 motorway all the way from London to Peterborough could substantially reduce commuting times for those planning to buy a new home in the area.

The Eastern New Homebuyer website reports on a newly published government study into the future of the A1 which suggests creating this continuous motorway.  The study says there is a need for improvements to be made to the remaining parts of the route which are not already motorway, such as the section between Huntingdon and Baldock. 

For those looking for a new home in the Peterborough area, this is good news.  It will mean those who commute by car from Peterborough or the surrounding villages such as Eye are likely to have a shorter and easier journey.  The shortened drive times to Cambridge and London will be hugely beneficial to those who wish to continue their career in these cities but live a more rural lifestyle surrounded by the beautiful Fenland countryside. 

Whittlesey Green, Larkfleet Homes

The full report can be found on Eastern New Homebuyer

Just launched - reserve your new home at our pre-launch prices.

Just launched, our latest development, Thorney Meadows sits in the heart of the fenland village of Thorney.  We are offering fourteen exclusive property types with three, four and five bedroom homes, which you can reserve at our pre-launch prices!

For families looking for a new home, the local primary school is within walking distance and further schools can be found in nearby villages and Peterborough.

The village is very well served and has a post office, village store, library, chemist, medical practice, pub and restaurant - and the Thorney Lakes golf course is nearby.

Thorney Meadows is just eight miles from Peterborough and close to the A1 main north-south route and sits on the A47 which links Leicester and Norwich.

Charlotte and Laura look after Thorney Meadows for us, and can be contacted on 01733 223225 or by email, parsonsprospect@larkfleethomes.co.uk.

Baston in the Blitz draws in the crowds.

Great fun was had by all at the recent 'Baston in the Blitz' event.

We were in attendance with our own Larkfleet Homes battle bus and we were delighted to be involved in this very popular event again. The stunning weather helped draw in record crowds with everyone being keen to view the two Battle of Britain fighter planes - the Hawker Hurricane and the Messerschmitt Bf109.

 

The event had a truly authentic feel with the US, German, Russian and British armies being represented and music being played throughout the weekend by a number of 40's bands and singers.

Over 6,000 visitors joined in the celebrations this year.  This was a huge increase on the 3,000 that attended last year and just shows how popular this annual event is becoming.

Just down the road from the venue is The Croft, Larkfleet's age-exclusive development which is aimed at new home buyers looking to downsize and enjoy a new stage in their lives in low maintenance, eco-friendly housing. Situated in Mayfield Gardens, close to the centre of the village, homes at The Croft can be viewed by calling Mike on 07917 761020.

First-time buyers are going for gold this year

Larger homes are taking the longest time to sell and suffering the largest drop in price, as first-time buyers do the best when it comes to fruitful housing opportunities this year!

According to the latest housing market report from Rightmove 2016 will be a 'year of two halves',

Activity was skewed in the first half of year with a buy-to-let surge boosting property transactions to 12 per cent higher than in the first half of 2015. Buyer enquiries to agents in July were 18 per cent down on election-boosted 2015 though up 4 per cent on 2014.

The outcome of the second half of 2016 hangs on the strength of the traditional autumn market rebound.

Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst,  comments: “Many prospective buyers take a summer break from home-hunting and those who come to market at this quieter time of year tend to price more aggressively.

"This summer is also affected by both Brexit uncertainty and the aftermath of the buy-to-let rush in March to beat the stamp duty deadline. Most sellers seem to recognise that buyers may want some extra encouragement to get them to put their towel on a property to reserve it as well as on their sunbed!

“Buyers can often get a better deal at this time of year if estate agents match them up with motivated sellers. By autumn we should get a clearer view of the strength of any post-referendum hangover, though that also depends on buyers’ confidence to turn this interest into action. The latest interest rate cut making already cheap-to-borrow money even cheaper should act as an added boost to confidence.”

On a regional level, property prices have decreased month-on-month.

In August 2016, the average property in the East Midlands costs £194,908 compared to £197,705 last month - a small decrease of 1.4 per cent.

The decrease has been less obvious in the East of England with a monthly fall of just 0.4 per cent.

Keep up to date with all the latest property news on the Larkfleet blog as we continue to deliver news that we hope will help in your new home buying journey.

 

Become a house buying expert

It would appear that since that defining vote in June (we are referring to Brexit - sorry!), the media's been awash with news about the housing market.

We did mention in the most recent Larkfleet blog about daunting mixed-messages so we thought it was time  to do a little research and find a solution.

Well it worked! We've found a 12 chapter book that could solve your housing issues - The Expert's Guide to Buying a House in the UK - helping you to buy a good home and a good property investment by Dr. Judith Summer.

The book explores all aspects of buying a new home and aims to give a better understanding of how the system works with helpful hints, tips and advice along the way.

You can buy the book online and remember, at Larkfleet we have a team of helpful staff  always happy to take your call and help your new home buying dream become a reality.

Get in touch on 0845 450 7872.

Mixed media messages confuse first-time buyers

Mixed messages in the media these days can leave potential first-time buyers confused when it comes to making the right 'property buying' decision. One minute the news is good and then, well not so!

We also appreciate that being the bearer of bad news is just not the best look when it comes to feeling positive about making the brave move, so let's talk happy.

The Bank of England recently cut its base rate to 0.25 per cent and interest rates are now at a record low. So what does this mean?

Borrowers now have the chance to save money on monthly mortgage repayments.

Those on tracker mortgages will be the immediate winners, with the Council for Mortgage Lenders calculating that on an average mortgage of £114,000 the cut would be worth about £15 a month.
While fixed rate mortgage holders won't see any immediate change, the cut may present an opportunity to shop around for a cheaper deal.

Fixed-rate mortgages are at an all-time low, so it's a good time to lock in the cheapest rates.
Research is key when investing in a new property and taking your time to make sure you make the right decision is a wise move. For more info on how we can help, call us on 0845 450 7872.

Buy your new Larkfleet home with the Help to Buy Scheme

Sometimes we all need a helping hand to get on that property ladder and that's why the government Help to Buy Scheme has proved popular with first-time buyers.

Let us talk you through the scheme and explain how buying a Larkfleet home as your first property might be easier than you thought.

We won't blind you with science (well numbers actually), just the simple facts - and remember, you can always pick up the phone and one of our friendly advisors will be more than happy to talk you through the process.

The Help to Buy Scheme allows homebuyers to own 100 per cent of a new Larkfleet home with just a 75 per cent mortgage and a 5 per cent deposit. The remaining 20 per cent of the purchase price is paid through an equity loan from the government (obviously subject to approval).

Just to clarify

75 per cent  mortgage
5 per cent deposit required
20 per cent equity loan from the government - interest-free for the first five years

Add it all up - and that's 100 per cent of your purchase!

Equity loans can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home

We hope that's given you a rough outline of the scheme. For more info, get in touch with us
on 0845 450 7872 and find out how your 'new home dream' can become a reality.

Great news for homebuyers!

Larkfleet loves to be the bringer of good news, along with building incredible homes of course, and we know this story will please you as much as it does us.

It's been an "up and down" time for the housing market with mixed messages being reported in the media. However, the message coming through loud and clear at the moment is that rates on
two, five and ten year fixed rate deals have fallen.

Tesco Bank has cut five-year mortgage from 2.31 per cent to 2.19 per cent with TSB slashing its two-year fixed rate from 1.54 per cent to 1.44 per cent - good news for the property market!

Experts have claimed that a decision by the Bank of England to cut the base rate of interest will make mortgages even cheaper and could persuade more lenders to launch sub one per cent deals.

So, for now, at least, things are looking very good for homebuyers.

Did we mention that Larkfleet build incredible homes?

Make a date with a Larkfleet showhome

Are you considering taking the next step in your housing adventure with a move into a Larkfleet home? Well we wouldn't blame you, to be honest, and now you can spend a leisurely time having a sneak peek into what your new home could like at one of our gorgeous showhomes.

Our showhomes are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and are all designed using the latest trends to give you an idea of just how fantastic your new home will look. 

All showhomes are dressed with full size furniture so you can get a true idea of what lovely things you can buy for your home as, after all, furnishing it to your taste is one of the best parts of moving. Well for us at least!

Larkfleet has sites in the following areas - Peterborough, Eye, Whittlesey, Bourne, Stamford, Corby and Thorney, most of which have a showroom. 

If you'd like more info, you can give one of our helpful sales team a call on 0845 450 7872.

No appointment is necessary, you can just turn up and get a real feel for your new future home! 

Baston in the Blitz looks forward to a bumper third year

Larkfleet Homes will be supporting 'Baston in the Blitz' again this coming weekend as the event celebrates its third year.

Highlights at this year's event include two iconic Battle of Britain fighter planes on static display - the Hawker Hurricane and the Messerschmitt Bf109. Visitors will also be able to experience the mighty roar of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, as fitted to the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster during WW2, being run up to full throttle.

 

For the first time, there will be live battle re-enactments and firepower demonstrations from groups representing the US, German, Russian and British armies.

The Hurricane

Music from the 40's will be provided by popular performers including Paul Casper, Harmony Belle, Ian 'Rosie' Rose, Pete Wayre and Beth Berwick-Lowe and dance music will be played by the fabulous Blitz Dancers.

Baston is home to The Croft, Larkfleet's age-exclusive development aimed at new home buyers looking to downsize and enjoy a new stage in their lives in low maintenance, eco-friendly housing. Situated in Mayfield Gardens, close to the centre of the village, homes at The Croft can be viewed by calling Mike on 07917 761020.

Baston in the Blitz runs over the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days. Full details of the event, including car park locations and the entertainment programme, are available on the website at www.bastonblitz.org