18 Surrey Offices

Rightmove recently reported that new sellers increased the asking price for their property by 4.1%, which is the highest monthly increase for a decade, since April 2002 (which saw a 4.5% month on month increase).  In the south east, this figure is even more encouraging, with asking prices seeing a 6.9% monthly increase – with the average house price in the South East now £303,263.

Rightmove’s Director – Miles Shipside commented “We’re seeing a ...

Ever dreamed of moving to the West Country?  This is your opportunity to explore the best of what the region has to offer in terms of property.  Held in Burns & Webber’s Guildford office, the show, hosted by Curchods and Burns & Webber will showcase property from Stags, the leading estate agent for Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

Come along and join us, we will be here to answ...

If you are you a First-Time-Buyer thinking of buying your first property this year, we urge you to start the process now, so as to complete your purchase before the end of the stamp duty holiday in March.

The first step to take is to make sure you can arrange the financial side of your purchase. 

Our offic...

In a recent survey we asked a number of our past buyers, to comment on what would influence them most in their choice of estate agent when they next come to sell their property. 556 people responded to the survey.

As you can see from the result published here, professionalism and salesmanship were at the top of the list.

Jo...

With the cost of renting increasing during the last 12-18 months, the impact of improved affordability for mortgages means this is an ideal time to consider becoming a home-owner, rather than a tenant.

Interest rates are expected to remain at their current levels for some time to come and so we are predicting that 2012 will see greater transaction numbers than last year.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) ...

HOUSE prices have defied gloom-mongers to record an unexpected rise. They ended 2011 up by a healthy one per cent compared with this time last year.

The figures from Britain’s biggest building society show a marked improvement from 12 months ago, when prices were down 0.5 per cent year on year.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said the housing market had pe...

The lowest point since records began 10 years ago was in September 2011 when the average mortgage payment fell to 15.2%, or £488 a month. The figur...

Overview

2012 will likely mirror 2011 in terms of transaction volumes, with little change to prices. The shortage of stock in many price brackets and locations is the main reason why values have stayed firm through 2011 and why they will probably do so in 2012.

That said, nearly four and a half years on from this recession taking hold, there are thousands of people who are financially a...

If you are thinking of moving, or just need some advice, our offices will be open during the festive season between the following times:

24th December  -  Closed

25th December  -  Closed

26th December  -  Closed

The last few weeks have seen unprecedented activity in Europe with the Eurozone under threat if the debt crisis can not be brought under control. This has made the banks nervous as the spectre of a second credit crunch is being talked about. Wednesday 30th November saw central banks of some of the worlds largest economies announce a plan to ease tension by assisting commercial banks in getting access to dollars. This is expected to filter down ...

We all know that it is easy to prepare a home for selling in the Spring/Summer months, but when Winter comes around, it takes a little more thought to make sure your home is fully prepared for viewings.

The winter period, especially over Christmas is traditionally a quieter time for the property market, but this does mean that your home will have less competition from other sellers and by putting in a little effort you can make your home look r...

The property market has sprinted into the autumn after an effervescent and lively summer. 

The area’s private Parks continue to attract strong interest from buyers.  We have excelled in these prime areas in recent months with some notable sales. 

Whilst it is too early to say property values have risen, better prices have been achieved through the summer than in the first half of the year.  In part we believe this is due to public confidence re...

Welcome to the latest online version of our latest £1m+ luxury homes magazine - Premier Residences.

This Autumn edition is entitiled 'Spotlight On St George's Hill'.  This quarterly luxury homes magazine is hand delivered to 25,000 of Surrey's finest addresses.  If you would like your home to benefit from this excellent, high profile exposure, talk to your local Curchods office about featuring your home in the next edition.    

Please click o...

The Digital Property Group Ltd (DPG) and Zoopla Ltd have just announced that they have agreed to merge their respective businesses, creating what they describe as “a credible challenger to long-standing market leader, Rightmove”.

A&N Media, the consumer media division of DMGT, which owns DPG, will retain a 55% interest in the newly merged entity. 

Martin Morgan, Chief Executive of DMGT said: "This merger will create a genuine opportunity to cha...

The Council of Mortgage Lenders Report demonstrates a healthier picture in the number of First Time Buyers taking out mortgages.

Andrew Dewar our Joint Senior Partner is sure that part of the reason for this is quite simply the massive surge in rental values, which we have seen due to a shortage of stock coming on the  market. He comments:

"As well as the increased rental prices, many First Time Buyers are simply keen to own their own home.  I ...

Whilst no one would deny there are delicate and critical balances in world economies, the recent events on the stock market, are much more to do with the massive power of the media than the reality of the USA going bust or the Euro zone allowing Greece or Portugal or even the euro itself to go bust.

What is surprising is that anyone in the world finance arena could possibly have failed to recognise the massive tidal wave effect on stock markets...

“In simple terms, it is positive thinking, positive actions and relentless an unending determination by my staff to succeed. Yes, these are different times than we have been used to, but there are plenty...

The Curchods’ Seller Survey is a survey report on the condition of the key structural components of a property. It is commissioned by the seller prior to marketing and assignable, with all rights, to the buyer upon exchange of contracts. It is conducted by Landmark Surveyors, who are one of the UK’s largest Independent Chartered Surveyors The report is written in plain, understandable English and the surveyors are always happy to talk through a...

The May data from Land Registry's flagship House Price Index shows an annual price decrease of -2.2 per cent which takes the average property value in England and Wales to £161,823.

The monthly change from April to May is a decrease in property values of -0.4 per cent. The only region in England and Wales to experience an increase in its average property value over the last 12 months is London with a movement of 2.9 per cent. 

The most up-to-da...

A commentary on the current state of the UK mortgage market by Christopher Pain, Director of Curchods Mortgage Services Department.

Despite much negative commentary about mortgages, there are some positive signs. 

In July, The Council Of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reported that mortgage lending reached its highest level for almost a year - 48,800 loans were approved to the value of £7.8 billion.  In what is normally a quiet holiday month, these are...