Good News Friday!

At Larkfleet, we understand that after all the post EU Referendum talk, many people could be feeling a little apprehensive when it comes to making that new housing move. 

 

However, we are delighted to read in the press that confidence is starting to recover in the housing market, according to the latest UK residential Market Survey by RICS. 

The August 2016 survey shows a pick-up in confidence, following a significant drop in activity and price expectations in the wake of the EU vote. 

At the national level, both prices and sales are expected to rise over both the three and twelve month horizons as activity in the market stabilises. 

Following a couple of months in which sales declined sharply in the aftermath of the referendum, volumes stabilised during August and sales expectations improved noticeably, posting the strongest reading since February and furthermore, sales projections at 12 months have now climbed out of negative territory across all areas of the UK.

It's great to feel an air of confidence in the housing market again. We never doubted it for a minute!

Looking for a mortgage?

Here's our advice on how to secure a mortgage for your new home

- Get some advice!  Speak to a mortgage adviser.  With the record low rates currently available, they will know how to get the best deals and show you how much you will be paying each month.

- Research the deals.  There are an awful lot of good deals around at the moment, so it does make sense to research them and find the best for you.  You may want to look at both fixed rate and variable rate deals, length of the deal and deposit needed.  There are also a lot of new lenders around.  These include banks new to the mortgage market and also specialist lenders, so they are worth exploring along with the traditional lenders, like the high street banks.

- Whether you are a first time buyer or an existing home owner, you can take advantage of the government's Help to Buy scheme.  To read more about this, take a look at our website or give one of our sales team a call and they will explain the scheme to you.

- Know your score.  Make sure you check out your credit score before you start applying.  You may have a poor credit history but that does not mean you will not get a mortgage.  There are a number of websites you can use, some free and some paid for, so it is worth investigating what they offer.

- Self employed?  It used to be pretty tricky to get a mortgage if you were self employed.  This is no longer the case but you will need your accounts up-to-date and available.  It will help you to have a good credit history though - things such as paying off your credit card in full each month or not getting too close to your credit limit or using your overdrafts excessively.

- Keep at it.  There are so many ways of gaining your mortgage that sometimes it can be rather daunting and disheartening, but keep at it and you are likely to be rewarded.

- Keep saving.  If you are regularly saving, lenders will notice.  Although it can be tough to save today, it does quickly become a habit and you could look at the Help to Buy ISA which could boost your savings by up to £3,000. The Moneysavingexpert.com explains the scheme in more detail.

-  If you already own a home, look at different ways of selling it to help you get your dream new homes.  Larkfleet Homes has a number of schemes, including assisted sale, part exchange and secure home purchase which might fit your needs.

Talk to one of our sales staff on 0845 450 7872 to find out how we can help you move to your dream new home.

Living in Peterborough is a good investment

At Larkfleet, we already know that Peterborough is a great place to live, however, it now appears that living in Peterborough might make you a few pennies too!

Analysis taken from the credit comparison site TotallyMoney.com revealed some very interesting information about the popular East of England city.

Peterborough is the best place in the region to make a good living and makes the top 10 on the national list according to TotallyMoney.com which looked at factors such as as employment rates, average wages and the cost of living, to find the best places to live in the UK.

It's great news that Peterborough made the top ten.

The city does have great transport links to major UK cities and a commute to London is just a 50 minute train journey which makes it an attractive place to set up home.

Obviously, we already know all this at Larkfleet and our Hempsted Park development in Peterborough and nearby Parson's Prospect and Thorney Meadows developments are all popular with commuters and local residents too.

If you would like to talk to one of our sales team about making a new move and investing in a Larkfleet property, you can get in touch on 0845 450 7872.

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