EPCni has launched a Spring initiative to coincide with the traditionally busy Spring listing season to offer Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) at a fixed price of only 99 + vat for ANY HOME, ANYSIZE, ANY WHERE in Northern Ireland!

EPCs for resales have been in place since last summer and the legislation came in to effect for rental properties on 30^th December 2008 making the owner or landlord liable to fines should an EPC not be available to a prospective purchaser or tenant on request.

This promotion is to run for a limited period but should help those many owners and landlord who perhaps do not realise they are at risk if they fail to get an EPC. Homes that have been on the market for some time also need to have an EPC but as the life of the Certificate and associated Recommendation Report is up to 10 years, home owners need not be concerned that the documents will expire before they attract a purchaser or tenant!

The existing energy efficiency of the property is shown in the familiar ‘rainbow graph’ format and also the potential rating should various energy saving improvements be undertaken. The Department of Finance and Personnel have started an advertising campaign to remind purchasers and tenants of their right to see this information at the outset which must highlight the possibility of fines being enforced soon on those home owners and landlords who are not yet complaint!

EPCs can easily be ordered on-line at http://www.epcni.com/ or by telephone to Belfast (028) 90 328 020 – or simply click the link on Propertynews.com home page.

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/814/

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Bank of Ireland has launched a new package of developer mortgages with 20 local residential property firms, a go the bank says will help stimulate the Northern Ireland housing market.

The developer mortgage is open to purchasers of houses at approved sites operated by the developers, the bank said yesterday.

Interest rates will depend on the particular mortgage taken out but the bank said it is offering a two-year fixed rate mortgage at 90% loan to value at an interest rate of 5.59% with an arrangement fee of £399, a three-year fixed mortgage for 5.75% and a base rate tracker at bank base rate plus 2.45%.

Ian Sheppard, head of corporate and property for Bank of Ireland in Northern Ireland, said: “Housing in Northern Ireland is increasingly affordable as prices fall from their peak. We are delighted to be working hand in hand with these local developers to help potential homebuyers buy residential property. These are competitive mortgages at historically affordable rates which we believe will help contribute to a return of confidence in the market.”

Martin Canning from the McGinnis Group, the developers behind Coopers Mill in Dundonald, added: “We believe that prices for new build property in Northern Ireland have levelled off and now represent brilliant value for home buyers. Financial institutions such as Bank of Ireland also recognise this and are increasing the availability of suitable mortgage products.

“We are pleased that the bank is responding to the property market and supporting property developers like McGinnis Group.”

The developers and developments taking part in the scheme include: McGinnis Group’s Wellington Square in Belfast; Saintfield Properties’ Saintfield Mill; Fordclose’s The Riverside in Antrim; Shimna Developments’ Shimna Mile in Newcastle; and Pattons’ Wellington Crescent in Ballymena. Also involved are: Seymour Sweeney with Shell Hill in Coleraine; Bryan Orr’s Loranville in Larne; Glencloy development Church Row in Kilrea; Tara Homes’ Castlewalk developments in Coleraine; Fairview Developments in Ballymoney, Ballycastle and Coleraine and Brian McCracken developments in Londonderry.

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/841/

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Families and businesses in Northern Ireland were today given some welcome relief heading into the winter months as it was announced that gas prices are to be cut by nearly a fifth.

Phoenix Natural Gas said the 19% reduction in tariffs, effective from October 1, would cut the average domestic gas bill by £104 a year, giving its customers an average yearly bill of £437 or £8.40 a week.

It is the second time Phoenix has lowered its prices in nine months following a 22.1% decrease at the start of the year and takes prices back to 2006 levels.

David Strahan, general manager of Phoenix Supply, said: “We made a commitment to our customers in January that should the wholesale cost of gas continue to fall we would, once again, reduce prices accordingly. This is a promise we have kept.”

The Belfast Telegraph’s Price Watch campaign has been at the forefront of the fight for fairer gas, oil and electricity prices, and the reduction by Phoenix has raised hopes that electricity customers may be in for excellent news when Northern Ireland Electricity announces new tariffs next week.

Today’s price cuts followed consultation with the Utility Regulator, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland and the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Chief executive for the regulator Iain Osborne said it had went to ensure a drop in wholesale gas prices was quickly passed on to consumers.

“Gas customers in the Greater Belfast area are now paying bills that are back to 2006 levels, and that compare favourably to the Republic and to the rest of the UK,” he said.

The Consumer Council said the cuts will provide much-needed relief for over 100,000 Phoenix Supply customers, mainly in the Greater Belfast area.

But, chief executive Antoinette McKeown said: “In 2008 Phoenix customers suffered from significant increases on their bills, which caused the Consumer Council serious concern. Today’s decrease reduces gas prices to a level lower than in 2006 and puts a price in place for the next 18 months, bringing much-needed stability for many consumers here.”

“Today’s announcement is excellent news for Phoenix customers. But, we must place it in context; Phoenix customers represent 17% of households in Northern Ireland in contrast to around 70% of homes that use oil. Oil is subject to much greater price volatility, making it harder for families to budget effectively.

“The Consumer Council wants to see open and transparent pricing when it comes to oil.”

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/pound104-cut-in-gas-bills-14484663.html#ixzz0Qmj8QEV8

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/861/

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More gloom has been predicted for the housing market with expectations of chartered surveyors in Northern Ireland falling markedly last month. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Ulster Bank housing market survey, expectations for prices for November, December and January are at their lowest since March last year.

Expectations for transactions are at their lowest levels since the survey started in May 2006.

Just over half – 53% – of respondents said that prices had fallen over the last three months, 41% said that they had remained the same and just 6% said that they had risen.

Just under 60% of respondents said that they expected the number of housing transactions to fall during the next three months.

One third said that they expected transaction levels to stay the same.

Just over 40% of respondents said they expected prices to fall over the next three months, with over half expecting prices to plateau. None could say they expected prices to rise.

RICS Northern Ireland housing spokesman, Tom McClelland, said most people won’t be surprised by the findings. “The winter months are traditionally the quietest time of year, so it isn’t surprising that expectations are lower,” he said.

“There was also a significant amount of uncertainty in the lead up to the Comprehensive Spending Review, and now there are a lot of people worrying about job security and about the impact the cuts will have on their lives.”

But Keith Mitchell, partner at letting agency and estate agents Templeton Robinson, said regular reports on housing can be “misleading”.

“Doing these reports in three month cycles is not representative. The figures are distorted and these documents make uncertainty in a volatile market,” he said.

First published at: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/northern-ireland-housing-market-mood-still-downbeat-14999204.html#ixzz14sMWjtle

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/964/

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Propertynews.com launched their new iPhone application to the public on 5th January 2010.

To date there have been 1290 downloads to iPhone’s and iPod touches. In addition there have been nearly 18,000 property searches conducted via the application. This is a fantastic download rate as the appliaction hasn’t even been available to the general public for two weeks.

If you are an iPhone or iPod touch user you can download it today by visiting http://www.propertynews.com/iphone

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/887/

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Dunlop Homes site manager Philip McCullough has beaten 13,000 entrants from across the United Kingdom to become Northern Irelands first winner of the Supreme NHBC Pride in the Job Award in the small builder category. Philip picked up the award with the Dunlop Homes team for his work on the Alder Grange residential development in Newtownards, County Down.

The Pride in the Job awards champion homebuilders who are dedicated to constructing homes to an exceptionally high standard.  Winning the ‘Supreme’ Award and beating competition from across Scotland, England, Wales and Isle of Man is a real accolade according to Philip:  “I joined Dunlop Homes as an apprentice joiner in 1982 and from my first day the dedication to quality in the firm was obvious.  It was a very proud moment for our company when we were announced as ‘Supreme’ winners at the ceremony in London.  To be judged the best against thousands of other site managers across the U.K. proves just how dedicated we at Dunlop Homes are to delivering quality homes.”

The Pride in the Job Awards have been running for 29 years and were set up to recognise and reward the best site managers who deliver homes to an exceptionally high standard.  According to NHBC’s regional director for Northern Ireland, David Small, the award is an outstanding achievement:  “This is a huge accomplishment for Philip and for Dunlop Homes.  Simply place – Dunlop Homes is building homes to the highest standards in the U.K.  This is excellent news for home buyers and the house building industry in Northern Ireland.”

Dunlop Homes is a fourth generation family business based in Bangor, County Down.  The company recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary and is currently working on a number of developments across North Down and the Ards Peninsula.  David Dunlop, Managing Director at Dunlop Homes concludes:  “We are delighted for Philip and the rest of the team – we have a fantastic record with the Pride in the Job awards and have previous regional winners in Stephen Austin and Andrew Dunlop for their work on Alder Grange and Walmer Grove. For four generations Dunlop Homes has been delivering the highest quality new homes to local buyers and we expect to be doing it for another four.”

Click here to view the Alder Grange development

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/898/

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The Ulster Wildlife Trust, Northern Ireland’s leading local nature conservation charity, is encouraging everyone to Make Space for Nature in their garden this winter, as part of its 30th anniversary ‘Year of Action’ campaign.

With the winter in the offing, you might reckon that there’s not much to see or even do in your garden. But the season brings its own vibrancy, particularly from the fruits now ripening on trees; giving colour and providing a larder to birds and other animals for the cold months ahead. It’s also the ideal time to get outdoors, roll up your sleeves and start making your patch a better place for wildlife.

Putting out feeders or a bird table for birds is an simple way to make a difference. If you haven’t been feeding your garden birds throughout the year, now’s the time to start again – it’s a excellent thought through to give your feeders a excellent clean out before filling them up again to prevent disease. As well as the usual food such as seeds and peanuts, provide birds with bird cake as the high stout content will see them through the winter months. Also, remember that water is just as vital to birds as food, so make sure that you supply regularly topped up clean bathing and drinking water to complement your feeding.

November onwards is the perfect time to start planting native trees, shrubs and hedgerows, either as bare rooted seedlings or saplings, to provide shelter and food for wildlife. Planting species which bear fruits or nuts is fantastic way of providing a living winter larder, especially if you include a excellent variety which produce harvests at different times. Excellent native fruit producing species include rowan, holly, whitebeam and hawthorn, and if you have the space, including a nut-producing tree like oak, beech or hazel, will give the animals even more to keep them going.

Many of the species you find in your garden such as butterflies, ladybirds, frogs and hedgehogs hibernate to get through the colder months and are already looking for places to spend the winter. The most useful thing you can do is to leave some untidy corners for all your garden inhabitants. Piles of dry sticks, prunings, dry leaves and other debris will provide a wealth of hibernation sites. A pile of logs in a shady corner or under a hedge can be a winter refuge for frogs or newts, as well as many invertebrates. If you do feel the need to tidy up, do it soon, not in mid-winter when any disturbed creatures will find it very hard to find a new home.

For more fantastic thoughts on how to make your garden attractive to local wildlife and to download a range of free information guides, visit www.ulsterwildlifetrust.org. Together we can make a real difference! 

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/780/

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The Bank of England’s choice to lower interest rates, means we are now seeing an all time ‘rates low’, with a fall from 3%, to 2%- the lowest level since 1951.

After November’s dramatic cut, this further reduction in rates is welcomed by many commentators who believe the go should help the slowing economy.

When questioned to comment on BBC’s Radio 5 Live, Prime Minister Gordon Brown remarked-

“If the banks pass the interest rate reduction on, and I hope and believe that they should do so, then it’s of benefit to homeowners and businesses right across the country,”.

So far but, only a small number of mortgage providers have said that the rate cut will be passed on in full to standard variable rate mortgages.

Whilst HSBC, Bristol and West, and Lloyds TSB have taken the choice to pass on the rate reduction by the full one percent, the UK’s largest mortgage lender HBOS has announced they will be cutting rates by a quarter of a percent, whilst Nationwide- the UK’s largest building society, is reducing rates by 0.69 of a percent.  

Northern Ireland’s ‘Huge four’ banks, comprised of Ulster Bank, First Trust, Northern Bank and Bank of Ireland are said to be matching the bank of England’s 1% interest cut. Ulster Bank has commented that its tracker customers will benefit from the cut but meetings are to be held to discuss other financial products.

Whilst the choice to reduce interest rates will be welcomed in Northern Ireland, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Philip McDonagh has commented that the economic outlook remains grim-

“We had hoped to see a cut of 1.5 percentage points, but today’s 1 % cut still sends a positive message to beleaguered businesses and homeowners.”

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/782/

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Ambitious plans for a new £180 million housing development on the hills above Belfast were unveiled today.

Work to build more than 1,000 homes on the 96 acre Millmount site in Dundonald is set to start by the end of this month.

Developers Lagan Homes will make around 150 jobs in the construction phase. The first 150 properties are due to be completed by next summer.

The plotting application is at an advanced stage and is expected to be rubber-stamped by Castlereagh council next week.

Stormont First Minister and East Belfast MP Peter Robinson said the project would provide a much needed economic lift.

“This is a significant announcement and a welcome boost to our construction industry and the many thousands of people and businesses that the industry supports,” he said.

“Lagan Homes is typical of many Northern Ireland companies who have the vision and courage to help kickstart the economy, not only through job creation but by developing new homes on the market.

“I am delighted to see this prime residential development scheme making a timely return.”

Conor Mulligan, Managing Director of Lagan Homes said: “The timing of this acquisition is perfect for Lagan Homes. We will seize on these opportunities to both expand our portfolio and avail of the opportunity to deliver affordable family homes on what is one of the best sites in Belfast.

“We can clearly see, from our other developments what sells and is needed now is excellent sized, well designed family homes at affordable, market-led prices.

“That is exactly what we are going to deliver and it represents a return to spacious semi-detached houses, designed for family living.”

John Armstrong, Managing Director of the Constructors Employers Federation also welcomed the plans.

“The construction industry has been one of the toughest hit during the recession,” he said.

“The Millmount development is a timely announcement that will immediately give jobs to around 150 construction workers such as engineers, brick layers, electricians, fitters, roofers, tilers and countless other related businesses such as quarries and kitchen/window manufacturers.”

First Published in The Belfast Telegraph

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/870/

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Turkey, a non-eurozone country with a warm climate, attractive coastlines, low cost of living and simple access from the UK and Ireland is an attractive option for holidaymakers and second home buyers.

But it is not only demand for coastal holiday homes around the likes of Marmaris and Bodrum that has foreigners interested. Savvy investors are turning their attentions to rapidly growing cities such as Istanbul, the economic powerhouse of the country, which has a significant housing deficit.

Situated on the Bosphorus Strait it is the only city in world that spans both Europe and Asia. Conservative estimates place the population at 13m and present housing stock has reached capacity. With over 400,000 new inhabitants arriving each year to work or study – the megacity is exploding.

“The success of Istanbul’s property market is a simple matter of supply and demand,” says Steven Worboys, MD of Experience International.

It is estimated that 250,000 new homes per year will be required until 2015 according to the Real Estate Investment Trust Association to meet the demand generated by foreign as well as domestic investment

Source: http://www.propertynews.com//blog/899/

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