The Nationwide Building Society has been looking at the state of the property market with specific regard to flats, which make up around 16 percent of the total UK housing stock.
It found that the average size of a flat is 750 square feet, which is around half the size of the average detached house. They are also much cheaper than a detached house, with the UK average price for a flat standing at approximately GBP136,600. This is, says the Nationwide Building Society, around 25 percent less than the average for all properties combined and so makes it a little easier for first time buyers to get a mortgage for.
Although new build properties are often seen as being smaller than their older counterparts this is not the case with flats. Those built during the 40’s and 50’s tend to be the smallest according to the Nationwide Building Society figures, with new build flats being nearly 10 percent bigger.
,p>Get a great first time buyers Nationwide Building Society mortgage quote and get on the property ladder with a flat.
A survey carried out by the Abbey National mortgage department suggests that the general view is of house prices stopping their fall within the next 12 months.
Speaking to estate agents the Abbey National found 61 percent of them believing that the prices would bottom out within 12 months, while the majority of homeowners expect it to be even quicker, the concensus being around 7 months. Even the most pessimistic homeowner cannot envisage price falls lasting longer than a year.
With this market view in mind around 80 percent of property owners are happy to wait and let the prices fall a little more before committing to a move. The Abbey National also found a small number of people planning to make the most of the price falls by stepping in to buy and grab a bargain.
Special Summer offers have been announced by the Co-op, better known in financial circles as CIS. Their key offer is on a three year tracker mortgage that is only available to CIS current account holders.
The first thing to notice is the sub 6 percent interest rate – 5.99 percent when customers can provide a 25 percent deposit. There is also no fee on this particular mortgage, something that is refreshing in the mortgage market of today. Customers will also be pleased to see that there are no legal fees and remortgage customers can also receive a free property valuation.
There is great flexibility in this CIS mortgage too, with the option to overpay and thus reduce the total repayment term and interest. Payment holidays are also available to help customers manage their expenditure from time to time.
