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The number of first-time buyers who bought a home with a mortgage fell to a ten-year low in 2023, according to the Yorkshire Building Society.

Would-be buyers have been forced to put their plans on hold - soaring mortgage rates, high inflation and record increases in rent have made it harder than ever to scrape together a large enough deposit, unless they have financial help from loved ones.

But Lewis Shaw, mortgage expert at Shaw Financial Services, says falling inflation and interest rates could ease the cost of borrowing, opening up buying opportunities that didn't exist in 2023.

'First-time buyers have a great chance in 2024 to take a step on to the ladder without the competition they've faced from the landlords over the past decade.'

This is because dramatic increases in buy-to-let mortgage rates forced many landlords to sell up last year. The Conservatives are expected to promise to cut the upfront cost of a home for first-time buyers as a last-ditch attempt to win over younger voters. This could deliver another boost for renters looking to buy their first home.

Daily Mail

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The starting gun was fired on a mortgage price war yesterday.

HSBC became the first major bank to offer fixed-rate deals under 4 per cent, with rival lenders expected to follow suit.

Daily Mail

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House prices suffered their biggest fall since 2008 this year after a sharp rise in borrowing costs put off buyers. Prices are 4.5% down from their all-time peak in the summer of 2022 - and the building society's experts said there was unlikely to be a rapid rebound in 2024.

Robert Gardner of Nationwide, said that the number of transactions this year involving a mortgage was down by around a fifth compared with pre-Covid levels reflecting higher borrowing costs.

Hopes are growing that, with inflation now falling, the Bank of England can start to cut rates after holding its benchmark lending rates at 5.25%. Yet with borrowing costs only coming down moderately and the economy still sluggish, house prices could fall by a further 2%, Mr Gardner warned, 'A rapid rebound in activity or house prices in 2024 appears unlikely,' he said.

Daily Mail.

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Fox Estates would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024.

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Sellers are offering their biggest discounts in five years, with one in four offering 10% off the asking price right now, putting buyers in a very strong position.

Sellers are accepting an average discount of £18,000 in November 2023.

In London and the South East, that rises to £25,000.

The average discount being offered is 5.5%, the equivalent of £18,000.

In London and the South East, that rises to 6.1%, or £25,000 off the asking price.

Across the rest of the UK, the reduction is smaller at 4.8%, or £11,000 but it is still the highest level of discounting we've seen in years.

  1. BASE RATE STAYS THE SAME
  2. HOUSE PRICES SEE SMALLEST OCTOBER RISE SINCE 2008
  3. HOUSE PRICES DROP AGAIN
  4. BANK OF ENGLAND TO LEAVE INTEREST RATES ON HOLD

Why Sell Your Home With Fox Estate Agents?

  • Fox Estate Agents have won multiple awards based on extremely high standards of Customer Service.
  • Chris Fox FNAEA has over forty years experience and is backed by a highly experienced, dedicated team.
  • You will have a personal Sales Progressor overseeing your transaction.
  • Fox Estate Agents is an NAEA Propertymark member firm and are also members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme.
  • Our Terms of Business are, No Sale, No Fee and we are here to assist you seven days a week.

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Customer Reviews

  • We are 100% satisfied and cannot recommend Fox Estates strongly enough. The team were extremely professional, friendly, and approachable from the minute we asked for a valuation right until completion. Their knowledge of the local area was spot on and made the difference on the sale of our house. We are grateful to Chris in particular for his attention to detail, responsiveness to emails and a willing pro-activeness to help keep things moving. I would not hesitate in recommending Fox Estates to my friends and family..

  • Chris Fox put my house on the market on June 13th and advised me to have an open house. 26 people viewed the property and I had 6 really good offers. By 3rd of August we had completed!Chris guided me through the sale with professionalism, integrity, friendliness and his extensive knowledge which can only come from spending 35 years doing a job he is still clearly passionate about.

  • Chris is very efficient and professional at all times. He made the sale of our property effortless and acted beyond the call of duty on our behalf.

  • During my career I have come across many estate agents and Chris really is a true professional, with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism I have seen. As well as having referred him to my own clients and had excellent feedback, I have personally used Chris to sell my property and I have been extremely impressed, and would recommend him to everyone.

  • I instructed Chris to sell my house and when he found a buyer the sale went through in just over 6 weeks. His service was excellent and I would recommended him to anyone. A few months later my mum instructed him to sell her house and again he found a buyer and the sale progressed to completion without a problem. Chris is very knowledgeable and professional and he will give you a very helpful, friendly and attentive service. If you are thinking about buying or selling I would suggest you give him a call

  • I employed Chris Fox to sell my parents home when my mother died last year. He handled the sales with professionalism and respect for my family. He was very eager to secure the right sale and was tenacious on our behalf. He kept us fully informed of all developments during the sale and achieved a very good outcome on our behalf. I would recommend Chris Fox wholeheartedly.

  • AFTER 4 MONTHS OF AGGROVATION WITH ANOTHER ESTATE AGENT I APPROACHED CHRIS ABOUT 2 MONTHS BACK, I EXPLAINED THAT I HATED ESTATE AGENTS, CHRIS HAS GONE A LONG WAY TO REPAIRING THAT IMAGE HAVING DONE A SPLENDID JOB IN SELLING MY HOUSE WITHIN 3 DAYS THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK 6 WEEKS TO THE POINT I HAD MOVED EXCELLENT ATTITUDE AND A TRUE PROFESSIONAL

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