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is available in the news section as soon as we get it Listings now on line News People would rather rent than buy A recent survey shows that nearly six million people would rather rent than buy due to the cost of a mortgage... Alliance & Leicester Mortgages quarterly moving index said that of the six million people who would prefer to rent, 47 per cent are "mortgage-phobic" - nervous about getting onto the property ladder because they fear the actual cost of a mortgage. Breaking the results down further, 17 per cent feel that a mortgage is too much of a commitment and 30 per cent say they don't think they could afford to buy. Stephen Leonard, Director of Mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: "It seems the cost of a mortgage is the main reason why many people choose to stay off the property ladder. "Of those who would rather rent, nearly half think a mortgage is too expensive or too much of a commitment. People are afraid that mortgages are unaffordable but the reality is that even though a mortgage is a financial responsibility, it needn't be a burden if people get the right deal to suit their circumstances. "There is good news for these 'mortgage-phobes' - the mortgage market is becoming increasingly competitive and borrowers can take advantage of the increased rivalry between lenders to provide the best products and rates." Mortgage-phobia is most prevalent in the South-West with 64 per cent of those who would rather rent believing the cost and commitment of a mortgage are too much. Fifty-three per cent of those in their twenties cite the same reasons. Least likely to suffer from mortgage-phobia are those in the North-East, 56 per cent of whom prefer to rent as a lifestyle choice, rather than a fear of commitment or the expense. Future plans to buy In the long-term, however, 84 per cent say they want to own their home, with 34 per cent saying that renting is money down the drain, and 34 per cent saying that they see owning property as an investment. Leonard continued: "Despite 'mortgage phobia', our research shows that the majority of people in the UK would be happier to call a home their own, rather than to rent from a landlord. "Renting is regarded by many as money down the drain and it seems people would rather have their hard-earned cash go towards eventually owning their home, rather than going in someone else's pocket." The research also showed that those who already own their homes believe they have made the right decision - given the choice, 97 per cent of them would still rather buy their home than rent. Other findings from the survey were: # Twenty-nine per cent of those who would rather rent like the flexibility of renting compared to the commitment of a mortgage. # Forty-two per cent of those in their twenties say they prefer renting because they can't afford to buy. # Of those in their thirties, 19 per cent say they prefer to rent at the moment because they are waiting for house prices to fall.
Burglars Love the Holiday Season Before you go on holiday make sure your home is safe and secure, so that you don't come back to any nasty surprises... Thousands of Brits will be flying off on their summer holidays over the next few weeks, and in the mad rush to unearth the passports and pack the suitcases, it's all too easy to overlook domestic details that could prevent a disaster from happening to your home while you're away. Bradford & Bingley have collated a list of some pre-holiday home safety tips to minimise the chances of a catastrophe occurring in your absence: 1. Turn off your water supply before you leave - it's enough of a dampener that your holiday is over for another year without having to return to a flooded house caused by a burst water pipe. 2. Buy timer switches for a few of your room lights, particularly the living room and main bedroom; having them timed to go on for a few hours each evening will give the illusion of the property being lived-in. 3. Fit a security light to the exterior of your house. 4. Make sure that all doors and windows, including those of the garage and shed, are locked. 5. Give a friend or neighbour a set of keys so they can pick up your post, and also in case of emergencies. Cancel your milk and newspaper deliveries. Bradford & Bingley's head of general insurance, Dave Foyle, says: "For many holidaymakers getting a good deal and making the most of the time with their friends and families is their top priority at this time of year. "But without taking a few quick and careful precautions, a holiday could soon become stressful rather than stress-relieving. "By making a few simple arrangements you can ensure a safe holiday and a secure home to return to."
Buyers are Biding Their Time Buyers are biding their time before committing to a house purchase, according to a recent survey... Research from Yorkshire Bank shows that buyers are doing their research before they put in an offer, looking into the crime rates of an area and making repeated visits to potential purchases. It seems they are aware that it's a buyers' market and that they can afford to take their time before they commit to purchasing a new home. One in five buyers check out council figures on burglary and car crime, and 27 per cent now expect to visit a house several times before making an offer, up from 21 per cent six months ago. Steven Glass, head of marketing at Yorkshire Bank, says: "There is tentative evidence that the stalemate between buyers and sellers that dogged the first half of 2005 may be over. However, buyers are becoming increasingly fussy about what they purchase. "It's no longer a case of ensuring the house is up to scratch or checking out the immediate neighbours. Buyers are putting in their homework to ensure their costly investment is a good one for the long term, and that includes avoiding areas where it is likely your car or home is more likely to be broken into." Yorkshire Bank also found buyers are looking for greater value for money, with 26 per cent now prepared to put in an offer under the asking price, even for a property which they really want to buy, an eight per cent increase on the start of the year. Sellers wise up But it's not only the attitudes of buyers that have shifted; sellers too are recognising the need not to overprice their property. Only 16 per cent would now opt for an estate agent simply because they provide the highest valuation, says Yorkshire Bank. Recently, both the National Association of Estate Agents and the Royal Institute of Chartered surveyors urged sellers to be realistic about pricing if they wanted to ensure a sale. Steven Glass continues: "It appears that it is sellers who have helped break the stalemate in the housing market by not just pricing their property realistically, but by accepting offers from increasingly fussy buyers likely to offer under the asking price." Government allocates £170m to speed up planning performance The government has finalised the highest ever allocation under the Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) to further improve and speed up planning performance. Local authorities will receive their share of the £170m of PDG, Planning Minister Yvette Cooper has announced. The grant rewards local authorities for progress in online planning, speed in determining applications, improving housing stock provision, and developing plans for their communities. Yvette Cooper said: "The £170m finalised today is the largest so far, up £40m on last year. The grant is having a major impact on planning services both in improving their performance and in raising the profile of planning departments within local authorities. "Since 2003 we have now allocated some £350m which underlies the importance of a well-resourced local planning system to delivering sustainable communities. Some high-performing authorities will receive in excess of £1m this year." PDG is often used to invest in planning staff or new IT systems, although the funds are not ring-fenced. The grant has contributed to a six per cent increase in deciding applications on time against a six per cent rise in applications. The final PDG includes adjustments for some errors made in last year allocations following incorrect performance returns from some local authorities. To ensure the grant is not rewarding poor performance, elements will be withheld where there are problems such as failure to defend against appeals and non-compliance with planning directions.
The Positive Club "There are those of us who are always about to live. We are waiting until things change, until there is more time, until we are less tired, until we get a promotion, until we settle down -- until, until, until. It always seems as if there is some major event that must occur in our lives before we begin living." -- George Sheehan "People waste most of their waking hours every day going through the motions, chatting idly, shuffling paper, putting off decisions, reacting, majoring in minors and concentrating on trivia. They spend their time in low priority tension relieving, rather than high priority goal-achieving activities." -- Denis Waitley "No man can always be right. So the struggle is to do one's best, to keep the brain and conscience clear, never be swayed by unworthy motives or inconsequential reasons, but to strive to unearth the basic factors involved, then do one's duty." – Dwight D. Eisenhower Remember
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