New Developments

 

Great Off Plan Investments

If every cloud has a silver lining the inner sparkle to the economic turmoil has to be the lustrous deals that can be done on new properties bought off-plan from the big developers. The catch, of course, is finding the cash to take advantage of the keen prices isn’t always so easy, and without some of the necessary funds upfront, the chances are you will lose that much-coveted plot.

Rubicon has teamed up with the XBond Company to enable investors, first time buyers and regular purchasers to tap into the best deals, using Zurich’s Property Deposit Guarantee to make them accessible to buyers who either can’t or don’t want to commit the high sums usually required as a deposit.

Darren Box, Rubicon MD, says “I’ve worked through many difficult markets and seen the degree of negotiation that developers will offer buyers when sales are harder to come by. When the market improves buyers always say the same, If only they’d known or had the cash to invest when developers were offering these great deals.”

We at Rubicon are building networks of clients and putting together groups of buyers to get the very best deals available to the market. We have helped regular buyers; investors and first time buyers gain all of the benefits bulk buying power offers. Rubicon has negotiated as much as 25% discounts on prime Canary Wharf property on buyers’ behalf. Unlike investor clubs, the Rubicon/XBond scheme has no hefty joining fees.

For more information contact Darren Box on 0207 093 8380 - Email darrenbox@rubiconlondon.com

10% exchange deposit from as little as £1,497 for a 1 bedroom property in Canary Wharf. www.thexbond.com

 

 

House Prices rise in Prime London location

The Guardian 11th of Feb

Asking prices for properties in London's best-heeled areas increased by an average of 1.3% (£16,106) in January, according to Primelocation.com – the second index to report a rise in house prices last month.

The survey, which focuses on the most expensive neighbourhoods in London, showed prices had increased to an average of £1.3m over the month, with the biggest increase in west and south-west London where asking prices rose by 2.29% or £21,418. The market was particularly buoyant in Hammersmith and Chiswick where sellers increased prices by 14.3% month-on-month.

Primelocation.com's head of research, Andrew Smith, said: "Last month we noted that the recent upturn in asking prices in prime areas after six months of falling values provided tentative evidence that the market was stabilising. This third month of rising prices adds further weight to that conclusion."

Last week, Halifax reported a 1.9% increase in house prices nationwide during January, while agents across the country said they had enjoyed a big increase in buyer inquiries.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said yesterday that interest in the market was continuing to pick up, with 16% more surveyors reporting a rise rather than a fall in new buyer enquiries, with the strongest interest in Wales.

Although the average number of transactions per agency over the past three months is 9.9 – the lowest since the survey began in 1978 – more surveyors, particularly in London and the south of England, are optimistic sales will pick up in the next few months.

David Smith of Dreweatt Neate, an agency in Hampshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire, said: "Our activity rate was up 40% on this time last year. Vendors are being more realistic and buyers are realising that there are some good opportunities out there."

London estate agency Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward reported buyer registrations had reached their highest level since last spring, with more than 35% of new registrations made by first-time buyers.

It said Highgate performed particularly strongly with a 100% increase in activity and one property sold every day in the first two weeks of the year. However, the agency said that prices were still being pushed downwards.

Agents have also reported considerable interest from overseas buyers in the central London market in the past three months, attracted by lower prices and a weak pound. Some agents were even claiming that buyers were entering into bidding wars over properties and there were even cases of gazumping.

Home Information Packs

Rubicon are offering Home Information Packs (HIPS) to home sellers. Since the 10th September 2007, the law requires that if you are marketing a property for sale you must now produce a Home Information Pack (HIP) for that property, www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

A central component of the HIP is the Energy Performance Certificate, which assesses a property's overall energy efficiency and recommends cost-effective energy saving improvements. Rubicon will arrange for this certificate as well as a detailed set of documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title, which must also be included in the pack. For more information on how to obtain a hassle-free HIP, as well as a free valuation , please contact Rubicon on 0207 093 8380

Lettings Refurbishment

We show potential buyers and tenants around properties every day, so we know that presentation affects prices. Whether you are selling or letting, it is worth investing in the appearence of your property, right down to the finer details. This is where we can help, with a range of interior solutions from furniture packages to renovating homes.

Once you have decided to sell your property, or when you know a tenancy is due to end, simply get in touch with us and one of our consultants can visit your property and assess the condition. We will then draw up a list of works we recommend (if necessary) and see what you think. If you like our ideas, we will prepare a quote and give you a timeline by which the work will be finished.

Rubicon will oversee the entire refurbishment for you and, when everything is done to your complete satisfaction, we will be happy to sell or re-let the property. However large or small the project, our service is designed to minimise your property’s ‘empty’ time and maximise its power to make money.

New Developments

We also offer a service for purchasers of new developments, where we will prepare your property for the rental market. We have managed many overseas landlords properties and have completed all of the necessary works for them. This means overseeing any building and refurbishment work and doing a final site inspection. We are very particular about these things, so you can be sure of a high standard of workmanship.

We will also ensure that the property has the appropriate look and feel for the tenants you want to attract.