Katharine was a wonderful help to my mother in law when buying a property. She was always friendly, helpful and kept us updated along the journey. Any problems we faced she was there to help us through them and had excellent communication with us and the solicitor. We would definitely recommend her and Aldreds Gorleston.
Melissa has been amazing the whole way through my purchasing journey and a genuine asset to Aldreds. Her customer service is second to none and even replied to an email of mine on her day off. Thank you so much for your service, it has been a pleasure.
Would like to highly recommend using Aldreds in Gorleston, they are extremely responsive and such a friendly team. However, special thanks to Eleanor Meadows, who helped us with advice and support during our bumpy ride selling and purchasing our new home. She not only helped us during the purchase but also her after care was great. Thanks Eleanor you made a stressful experience that little bit easier with your professionalism, enthusiasm and kindness.
Today the chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the stamp duty changes announced at the end of September will revert back. The date for this is March 2025! So it shouldn’t effect anyone’s current purchase but it is something to be mindful of.
All buyers currently pay no stamp duty up to £250,000 with first time buyers paying no stamp duty to £400,000
After March 2025 the stamp duty threshold will revert back to £125,000 with buyers paying 2% over this figure until £250,000 where the 5% rate kicks in. The first time buyer threshold will revert to £300,000.
Changes were also announced with regards to the reduction in tax free capital gains allowances. It will be slashed from £12,300 to £6000 April 2023 and halved again to £3000 in April 2024. This will mean higher tax bills for landlords disposing of buy to lets.
It has been widely reported that mortgage rates have risen due to the Bank of England raising the base rate of interest.
However, the forecast for where rates may peak has come down substantially. Lenders had already built a peak base rate of up to 6% in to their new products and as this starts to look less likely fixed rates have started to adjust downwards. With some forecasts predicting fixed rates may be below 4% early in 2023.
Positive news on mortgage rates can only be a good thing for the housing market as we move in to 2023!
Our Great Yarmouth office has received some fantastic reviews this week. Well done all.
I found the team at Aldreds to be very friendly. The experience of purchasing through Aldreds was straightforward and I was regularly communicated to and kept up to date with progress. A special thanks to Bronwyn.
Excellent service, Bronwyn has been our main contact and has been extremely helpful although the whole team have been great and we will definitely be using Aldreds again. Thanks team
We have used Aldreds on many occasions, both as a seller and a buyer and we are never disappointed. From the first point of contact to the last the service we have received is second to none. Friendly, efficient and professional. What more can you ask for in an agent. Would highly recommend them to any would be seller or buyer.
We can thoroughly recommend using the professional services that this agent has to offer. After recently completing on the sale of our charity holiday chalet, the overall experience of the customer journey provided for us was great and exceeded all expectations that we previously had. Aldreds in Great Yarmouth were very clear and concise explaining the process where required and also with dealing with our queries in a prompt and knowledgeable manner - nothing was too much trouble for Chris at the valuation stage. Cheers Chris. We appreciate Bronwyn and Richard accompanying our viewings and we are very grateful to Jackie with her negotiating skills at the point of sale - thank you all. Bronwyn - 'Special' thanks from us all for keeping us regularly updated at the sales progression stage, ensuring that we felt at ease at all times - it is very much appreciated. Keep up the good work all!
As agents we are asked this question on a regular basis and over the last six weeks more often than ever!
It is clear that the interest rises will have a slowing effect on the housing market. We are now well in to November, a time when the housing market starts to cool slightly for Christmas. The true effect of the rate rises and economic uncertainty may not be felt until the new year.
Now the good news! Across all branches we exceeded our sales target for October which demonstrates that there are still buyers looking. Well priced and well marketed properties will continue to receive interest and offers. Our Gorleston branch has listed a property in Browston that has had 16 viewings and a number of offers this week.
Demand for housing in the UK remains strong with the property portals reporting high interest and hit levels.
Interest and a shortage of properties in the private rented sector continues to make investing in property attractive.
Whatever the future brings Aldreds will continue to serve our customers and communities diligently as we have done since 1857.
