Ok, don’t answer that. My question is actually directed at the optimistic (or should that be just plain greedy) vendors who at no cost to themselves ask an estate agent to waste everyone’s time by asking too much for their home? As many on Twitter will know, I regularly postContinue Reading

The monthly charade that is the RiCS house price survey provides the excuse to take a look at the health of the housing market – the property equiverlant of sticking a photo of Pippa Middleton on the front page – makes you feel better but as a guide to houseContinue Reading

Up early for a turn on Wake Up To Money on Radio FiveLive to be described as “our own favourite property expert” but the famously generous Mickey Clark. Then on to the last BBC Breakfast to come from Tv Centre. A good chat with Naga Munchetti & Nick Owen onContinue Reading

Each new house price survey is published to cries of “it’s skewed by the London effect” and commentators will point to the capital and it’s influence on ‘average’ house prices. Rightmove records prices in London are now at £435,000, twice the average across England & Wales of £226,000 and aContinue Reading

Starting at 6.00am I spoke to Phil Williams on BBC FiveLive on Weekend Breakfast about the end of the two year Stamp Duty holiday. Then on to BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Berkshire and then finishing at 8.10 with a chat with BBC Radio Wales. Phew!!Continue Reading

A quick look at the bigger property portals suggests that there are more than 2,000 homes currently for sale with guide prices of more than £2m. In his Budget the Chancellor has decided that buying something at this level is now going to cost you 2% more by way of Stamp Duty LandContinue Reading

A live interview looking ahead to Wednesday’s Budget which we now expect will deal with so called ‘stamp duty avoidance’ was followed by pre-record spots for the BBC 10 o’Clock News and a piece for Channel 4 News. Here’s the live interview with the lovely Maxine Mawhinney.Continue Reading

On BBC Breakfast this morning the tragic story of my neighbour Violet Grainger and the fire that destroyed her house a year ago. Trying to save money she had cancelled the £300 a year insurance premium and although it is believed that the fire started next door, because negligence hasContinue Reading

In amongst some excellent and innovative ideas in last years Housing Strategy was something that looked like it had been left in a draw in the Department for Communities and Local Government by it’s founder, the over-promoted John Prescott. Not to be confused with the similar sounding ‘FirstBuy‘ scheme theContinue Reading

Up early on a Sunday morning to talk to Phil & Anna at 6am about the Halifax raising their Standard Variable Rate. Help provided the night before by the lovely Melanie Bien and a crib sheet from the CML all helped make it sound like I knew what I wasContinue Reading

An early start gets me to Tv Centre to join Simon Jack on Radio 4 flagship Today Program with David Newnes of LSL Property Services ‘down the line’ from a studio in Derby. Whats happening to the market? Where next for prices and what about house building. Quote of the day?Continue Reading