Scotland Offers Affordable Seaside Living
Living by the sea is an ambition for many, and new research by Bank of Scotland has revealed that it may not be as unaffordable as some might think. The research found that average property prices by the sea have increased by only £7,980 (6%) over the past five years, which is significantly lower than […]
Executor Personally Liable to Pay Inheritance Tax Bill
Acting as executor for an estate carries a great deal of responsibility, and while the majority of executries are completed without incident, complications can arise and executors can sometimes find themselves in a difficult and unexpected situation. In one recently reported case, an estate’s executor ended up personally liable for paying the majority of a […]
Value of the Scottish Housing Market
The total value of the residential sales market in Scotland from 2007-08 to 2017-18 was £161.3 billion, according to the latest Property Market Report from Registers of Scotland. The newly published report details the trends in the Scottish land and property market from the pre-financial crisis period in 2007-08, through the subsequent economic downturn, to […]
Mortgage Lending Remains Relatively Subdued
Finance and banking trade association, UK Finance, recently published figures giving an update on levels of activity within the mortgage market in the UK. According to the figures, March 2018 saw a small increase in lending to first-time buyers compared to a year earlier, while remortgaging levels softened slightly after a busy start to the […]
Call for Evidence on Inheritance Tax
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published a call for evidence and an on-line survey to gather information about people’s experience and perceptions of Inheritance Tax. This is in response to an earlier request by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury that the OTS carries out a review […]
Many ‘Empty Nesters’ Choose Not to Downsize
Around 43% of adults whose children have ‘flown the nest’ intend to remain in the family home rather than downsize, new research from Bank of Scotland has revealed. However, although most are enjoying the extra space and freedom, a quarter (25%) say that they don’t enjoy being an Empty Nester, with 16% saying that it’s […]
Tracking UK House Price Changes
The Office for National Statistics has published the latest UK House Price Index (UK HPI), which reveals the most recent house price changes across the country. According to the Index, average house prices for the UK fell by 0.1% in February this year compared to the previous month. On an annual basis, average prices rose […]
Disinherited Partner to Receive Share of Estate
In an interesting case from Wales, a judge in Cardiff’s High Court has taken the unusual step of overturning a deceased man’s will to award property and some money to his long-term partner, reports the Daily Mail. Wynford Hodge died in 2017 at the age of 94. He owned a farm and caravan park in […]
Extension to Scotland’s Help to Buy Scheme
A scheme that helps people purchase a new-build home in Scotland without the need for a large deposit is to be extended beyond 2019. The Scottish Government has announced that from April 2019 a further £100 million will be invested over two years in the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme, which is expected to help […]
Research Reveals Obstacles to Moving up the Property Ladder
Much has been written about the difficulties facing first time buyers as they strive to take the first step onto the property ladder, however new research has revealed that homeowners looking to move up to the second rung on the ladder are also experiencing problems. The research, by Nationwide Building Society, found that 86% of […]
