WhatHouse? Local Wolverhampton

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Connells Office01543 262376

The Malt HouseCairns Close

Lichfield, WS14 [email protected]

Exceptional homes,Picturesque location,Easy access to Central London

Just 5% Deposit

Visit www.marcityhomes.com or

Call 0154 325 6647 to find out more.

A unique opportunity to purchase a contemporary apartment in a Grade II listed building. The Malt House offers a collection of 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom

apartments & duplexes.

√ Integrated fridge/freezer √ Integrated washer/dryer √ Integrated dishwasher √ Porcelanosa tiling √ Master bedrooms with ensuite

A CHANCE TO BUY A PIECE OF HISTORY

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essentiaLsLocal ESTATE AGENTS www.whathouse.com nov 2014 | 3

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Agent of the weekAndrew GrAnt, PrinciPLe at andrew Grant estate aGents

Could you please tell me a bit about your company?I founded the company around forty years ago, at the age of 26. We started with one branch in Worcester and over the years we have expanded to twelve branches across the West Midlands in locations such as Stourbridge, Droitwich, Malvern, Hereford and Kidderminster, and we have recently opened new branches in Solihull and Ludlow. We have also acquired a rental business in Redditch and have an associate office in St James’s, London.

What kinds of properties do you sell in the West Midlands?We sell a bit of everything, but our stock varies from office to office. Our core range of residential sale properties are priced between £150,000–500,000. I mainly deal with the country homes department, where the highest priced property we are currently selling is £9.5m. We see a real range of buyers, including professionals in search of bigger properties for their families, people selling companies and investing the money in property, buyers moving from London in search of better value and overseas investors, especially from Dubai.

What attracts customers to your company?We are the largest independent agency in the West Midlands, and customers

like to deal with local people with local knowledge. We have a range of specialist departments, highly experienced staff and a reputation built on a long period of success.

What are the market conditions like for residential sales in the West Midlands?We have found that the lower end of the market has improved considerably of late, with lots of movement up to around the £1m mark, although we’re still not quite seeing 2007 prices. Stock levels are getting slightly better, but we’re always in search

of more, especially given that we sell anything up to 45 properties a week.

Are the recent pension reforms likely to result in more people investing in property?The pension changes could well have an effect as things progress. The market suffered from a long blip but confidence has returned and property usually represents a solid investment. I believe things will continue to improve, and we might well see more investors looking to build portfolios.

Help to Buy has generally been seen as a success in the West Midlands – but do you support its extension?I feel very much for first-time buyers – it’s been a tough time for them and I think it’s a good thing that Help to Buy has been extended. The real problem is that the government seems to judge the market based on London and the Home Counties, and doesn’t seem to realise that prices aren’t jumping by the same levels elsewhere. They are also too quick to take incentives away as soon as they really start helping people. There is now talk of the Bank of England setting interest rates to 3% in the coming years, and this certainly wouldn’t be a good thing for the market. Contact www.andrew-grant.co.uk; 01905 734734

If so, you’re one of a growing band of would-be movers who

are hesitating about taking that step due to the uncertainty of

what may happen when we go to the polls, probably next May.

This week, agents Strutt & Parker said that in some places,

the property market is cooling because people are unwilling

to leave themselves open to a potentially costly fall-out,

dependent upon who ends up in power after the election.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have signalled that they would

introduce a �Mansion Tax� on high-

end homes should they win the 2015

election. The typical threshold mooted

is a property value of £2m. Both

parties have indicated that it would

be a progressive tax, with the liability

increasing with the value of the home,

and that the threshold would change

in line with property prices.

While many of us may only dream

about living in a property of that

value, big rises in property values in

some areas – especially London – have brought an increasing number of

properties within, or dangerously close to, this threshold.

Stephanie McMahon, head of research at Strutt & Parker, said: “Agents

are reporting a continued slowdown in some areas as buyers and sellers

nervously await news on the upcoming general election and the potential

for Mansion Tax. This is beginning to feed through into transaction

levels.”

With this year’s tightening of mortgage lending criteria and the

prospect of higher interest rates early in 2015 also contributing to

homeowners’ uncertainty, it looks like the surging month-on-month

increases in property prices should be slowing in the coming six months

or so.

No-one wants the momentum in the property market to be lost

completely, but I think it’s probably a good thing that people are being

cautious at this time. Remember how much trouble a gung-ho approach

to lending and property speculation got us into a few years ago?

If you do your sums and weigh up the uncertainties carefully, however,

there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go ahead with your house-hunting

in the mean time.

I hope we can help in your search.

Keith Osborne

Editor, WhatHouse?

Say What?

Have you put your move on hold until after next year’s General Election?

R7176 What House Ad Oct DPS.indd 1-2 21/10/2014 16:50

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14 interiors Find your new home at Whathouse.com

Sleek, eco-friendly and available now in rainbow colours, washing machines are bigger and smarter in more ways than one. Richenda Oldham looks at some of the latest models

Life on the fast spin

1 2

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Thinking of selling your home?

Do you know how much your home is really worth? Find out with our FREE valuation service.

It’s a quick and easy process that you can carry out online or over the phone.

Visit www.whathouse.co.uk/free-valuation or call us now on 0121 262 4146.

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WhatHouse? works with a team of reputable agents that will carry out the free valuation

12 | nov 2014 www.whathouse.com NEW HOMES

Canalside development of just 14, 3 & 4

bedroomed homes

Goscote Lane, Walsall WS3 1PE

www.waltonhomes.co.uk

Telephone Number: 01922 496748

FREE CARPETSfor reservations taken this weekend

Move into your new dreamhome with help to buy

Show Home openDaily: 11am to 5pm

ONLY 5%DEPOSIT

PRICE FROM £129,950 OR£103,960 WITH HELP TO BUY

Bellway Homes has opened

its new sales centre at

Digby Court in Solihull to

prospective buyers. The

development is being built

upon the grounds of the

former Bishop Wilson School in Pike Drive

following the school’s move to new premises

in nearby Chelmund’s Cross.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

approved plans for the development in April

and work was underway soon afterwards.

Bellway will also fund 64 affordable rented

homes for local people, invest £100,000

in an all-weather sports facility, pay for

improvements at the nearby Meriden Park,

create a landscaped green area within the

homes and pay £178,000 towards a new

drainage system.

Bellway sales and marketing director

Stephen Rose said: “North Solihull is

growing in popularity due to the scale of the

regeneration taking place here. Our previous

developments in the area have all proved to

be big successes and have sold extremely

quickly. We’re expecting Digby Court to

follow suit.

“This development offers something for

everyone. It provides a variety of properties

ranging from one-bedroom apartments to

four-bedroom houses. We are also providing

a substantial number of affordable homes for

local people, which is an important part of

our role in the regeneration project.”

These stylish new homes in North

Solihull are served by several local

primary and secondary schools, including

St Anne’s Catholic Primary School and

Windy Arbor Junior & Infant School,

which are both located just a short walk

from the development. Nearby secondary

schools include CTC Kingshurst Academy

and John Henry Newman Catholic School.

Digby Court is also served by excellent

transport connections. Marston Green

train station is located within a short drive

and offers direct and regular services

into Birmingham New Street and Coventry.

These contemporary new homes also

enjoy good road connections, with

the M6 and M42 easy to access

and Birmingham International Airport

within a ten minute drive.

Regeneration work in North Solihull

began in 2005. Since then Bellway has

built hundreds of private and affordable

properties. New schools, shops, health

centres, and community centres have been

built thanks to money raised by the sale of

land from Solihull Metropolitan Borough

to Bellway. The company has also invested

money to improve the infrastructure across

the area.

Bellway is also currently building at

Centric Mews in Smith’s Wood, where there

will be a range of one- and two-bedroom

apartments and two-bedroom houses.

Elsewhere, work is almost complete at

Hazelmead in Lowbrook, a development

which became Bellway’s fastest-selling in the

West Midlands region.

For more information ahead of the show

home opening on November 22nd, you

can visit www.bellway.co.uk or call the

marketing team on 07805 745 878.

New homes coming soon to North Solihull

Sales advisor Sheila Hawkins and site manager Alex Lacey at Bellway’s new Digby Court development in North Solihull.

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W O N D E R F U L H O M E S

A superb development of 3 & 4 bedroom new homes

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www.wonderfulhomes.co.ukFor more information on this development and others follow us at

Wonderful homes built with high standards and quality finish at affordable prices

Call NOW for details:01902 201 103

EXCLUSIVE SELLING AGENTS

You can own one of these brand new homes with as l i t t le as a

This development is backed by the governments Help to Buy scheme

5%deposit

just

£7k

£28k

£105k

Buyer’s 5% deposit

Government’s 20% loan

75% mortgagefrom commercial lender £140k

ExampleHouse Value

The above figures and diagram are for illustrative purposes only. For specific figures and further details please contact the selling agent.

*Subject to individual circumstances and terms and conditions.

£7,000deposit

*

Why Rent When You Can Buy?

The Help to Buy scheme makes it possible to buy a brand new home with as little as a 5% deposit.

With a Help to Buy equity loan the Government lends you up to 20% of the cost of your new-build home, so you’ll only need a 5% cash deposit and a 75% mortgage.

You won’t be charged interest on the 20% loan for the first five years of owning your home.

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27-10 Interior photographs from a typical showhome. *En-suites to selected plots.

t: 0845 652 2491sales hotline: 0800 285 1082

e: [email protected]

SaleS office and Showhomeopen ThurSday To monday, 10am - 5pm

www.kierhomes.co.uk

THE BIRCHES Willcock Road, off Dixon Street, Wolverhampton WV2 2DA

your home, your location

amazing specification includes: Contemporary kitchen with upstands Integrated dishwasher & fridge/freezer Stainless steel oven, hob & hood Fitted wardrobes & en-suite to master bedroom* Turfed garden & block paved driveway

Visit The Birches, off Dixon Street, this weekend to view the beautiful new showhome at this exciting development of 2, 3, & 4 bedroom homes. Excellent starter and family homes.

ShoWhome NoW oPeNThe wait is over!

Be quick and take your pick!

Help to Buy is a Government backed initiative in partnership with housebuilders. *Shows price with 20% loan assistance. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help To Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme. It is highly advised, for a swift,smooth transaction that an IFA/Solicitor advised by Redrow Homes is used. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer. Image typical of a Redrow homes. Price correct at time of going to press. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UPREPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. CHECK THAT THIS MORTGAGE WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS IF YOU WANT TO MOVE OR SELL YOUR HOME OR YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO INHERIT IT. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT, SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE.

Chestnut Walk, BilstonAT

Visit: redrow.co.uk/chestnut Call: 01902 471172

HELP TO BUY

Chestnut WalkBankfield Road, BilstonWest Midlands WV14 0TWOpen Daily, 10am ~ 5.30pm

2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes available from only

PURCHASE PRICE HELP TO BUY PRICE

£124,995 £99,996*

• Proud history 37 years trading as Plumbing and Heating specialists

• Commercial and residential work

• Traditional gas and plumbing work

• Renewable technologies design team

• Biomass boiler installations

• Solar pv installations

• Heat pumps installed

• RHI and FIT applications

T: 0871 2222 813 • E: [email protected] • Isis House, Smith Road, Wednesbury, WS10 0PB

www.witlodge.co.uk

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Witlodge wishes all the

WhatHouse? Awards nominees

the best of luck!

Connells Office

0121 556 2338

Alexandra Road, Tipton. Sandwell

DY4 [email protected]

Just 5% Deposit

Visit www.marcityhomes.com or

Call 0845 605 7773 to find out more.

All Alexandra Grange properties feature a range of benefits already included making it easier for you to settle into your new home faster.

√ 2, 3, 4 bedroom homes √ Integrated fridge/freezer √ Integrated washer/dryer √ Integrated dishwasher √ Porcelanosa tiling √ Master bedrooms with ensuite

SPECIAL INCENTIVES THIS WEEKEND

Reserve today and be in your home before Christmas!!!

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