Maslen Market Trends Spring 2019

1st April 2019

With many continuing to watch and wait before making their next house move, we look at the latest market trends impacting buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.

A good time to sell?


With the effects of Brexit still unclear, homeowners continue to hold off putting their homes on the market. A gradual dip in house prices means some are still waiting for property prices to rise before listing their home. But remember, it’s likely that if your own home is being valued at a lower price, so is the one you’re looking to buy.


While the supply may be low, the demand for properties is still high. Many people do still want and need to move, whether to be closer to a new job, school catchment zone or to accommodate a growing family. This February, we saw our best sales month since November 2016, suggesting more people are letting Brexit simmer in the background while they focus on taking the next step. Our advice? Prioritise the needs of your lifestyle over uncertainty around Brexit.


New lettings legislation


In contrast to the housing market, lettings is a hotbed of activity.


From the 1st of June, new legislation will come into action across England and Wales that stops tenants paying lettings fees. It’s thought that, as a result of the new Tenant Fees Bill, monthly rents may rise, as landlords attempt to offset some of the costs that are associated with referencing, inventories and admin. However, it will make the initial financial outlay when renting a property more affordable for tenants.


But what about those who still struggle to save up ahead of a move?





















In an attempt to support tenants in the private rental sector further, the government also announced that security deposits will be reduced from 6 weeks rent to 5 weeks from 1st June.


Nil deposits are also starting to enter the market. This alternative to a traditional deposit scheme asks new tenants for around one week’s non-refundable rent upfront, as opposed to holding a full deposit. Essentially, it is a form of insurance, which allows landlords to claim for the cost of any damage or unpaid rent at the end of a tenancy, whilst giving tenants the flexibility to move easily and stop cash being tied up.


For those on the property ladder, mortgages remain competitive. There are a choice of lenders in the market competing for business, giving homeowners a variety of great deals.


Historical UK Mortgage approvals:

Graph credit: https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/mortgage-approvals


For first time buyers (and their parents), there’s even more good news. Some mortgage companies are now offering first time buyers the option to put a gifted deposit, which has been donated by parents, into a savings account. It remains in the account until the first three years of the mortgage has been paid. Thereafter, it can be released, along with any interest that’s been accumulated over the period. This allows parents to retain their savings, whilst new homeowners build trust with their lender.

First time buyers also remain exempt from paying stamp duty if the property price is below £300,000, helping to make buying a first home more affordable.


CTA: Talk to our in-house mortgage advisors to find independent financial advice.


Testimonials

  • Maslen's were very good at keeping in touch an...

    Penny Ashby Brighton

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    Victoria Lander Brighton

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    Ms Tucker Brighton

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Brighton

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne Brighton

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Brighton

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Hove

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Brighton

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    Ms D Edmonds Brighton

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    Mr Standing Brighton

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Brighton

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Brighton

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Brighton

  • Please thank Paul at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Brighton

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Brighton

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Brighton

  • All staff extremely helpful and polite. They made our move very smooth and less stressful.

    Mr & Mrs Gosling Woodingdean

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Brighton

  • Several leagues above any other estate agent I have had contact with. Kept fully informed every step of the way.

    Paul Cade Haywards Heath

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Brighton

  • Very polite, good communication, excellent service.

    Alicia Van der Sluis Surrey

  • Maslen made the selling of my flat as easy as...

    Victoria Bradley-Barnard Brighton

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Brighton

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Brighton

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Brighton

  • The team provided the best service I have ever received from an estate agent. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

    Nicki Myers Woodingdean

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Hove

  • Maslen's were extremely helpful and profession...

    Bridget Allen Brighton

  • Donna was our vendors sales progressor. We cou...

    Allan Da Silva Brighton

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Hove

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Brighton

  • Thank you to all the team at Maslen, especiall...

    Gabrielle Gardner Brighton

  • Everyone at Maslen's were amazing, from Sam's...

    William Slingsby Brighton

  • In my situation, moving the sale of my home to Maslen Estate Agents really was a case of third time lucky!

    Lise Henderson Hove

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Brighton

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards Brighton

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Brighton

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Brighton

  • These guys are the real deal, highly experienced, no nonsense, honest and by far and away the most reliable we have encountered. 

    Sarah Studd Hove

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Brighton

  • Maslen's were amazing estate agents. Through,...

    Sarah Goodfellow Brighton

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Brighton

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Brighton

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Brighton

  • The best estate agents we have ever used. Friendly, efficient and above all truthful! You are in danger of giving estate agents a good name!

    Jacquie Ellis-Jones Shoreham

  • All the staff were professional, cheerful and supportive throughout the long process.

    Mr R Turner Shoreham

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Brighton

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Brighton

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Brighton

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton Brighton

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Brighton

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Brighton

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Brighton

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Brighton

  • Thank you for your service, I would (and have) recommended you to my friends.

    Liz Dean Brighton

  • In what could have been a very stressful situation it has been a pleasure dealing with you and I can’t speak highly enough of the service provided.

    Gill Frost Hove

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Brighton

  • You are the best estate agent I have ever dealt with and we will be recommending you to anyone moving!

    Hazel Young Hove

  • This was the best experience I’ve ever had of estate agents. Professional, calm and understanding.

    Elinor James Hove

  • I found everyone helpful, positive and courteous.

    Jean Wooldridge Evesham

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English Brighton

  • Thanks for all your help and assistance. Very friendly and professional service.

    Lisa Downary Brighton

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Brighton

  • Your advice, support and understanding whilst dealing with the property were invaluable, making everything so easy.

    Janine Suttner Brighton

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Brighton

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Brighton

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Brighton

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Brighton

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Hove

  • Very professional and friendly. The only estate agents I would trust and recommend.

    Jean Hurley Brighton

  • From first valuation to completion day the Mas...

    Sam Brighton

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brighton

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Brighton

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Brighton

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Brighton

  • Really pleased with the service and will definitely recommend to others.

    Ruth Kendall Brighton

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Brighton

  • Had a great experience with the purchase of ou...

    jennifer Willson Brighton

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Brighton

  • Estate agents generally have bad reputations b...

    Dan Harris Brighton

  • Delighted with the service provided. Very professional and skilful.

    Nicky Conlan Hove

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Brighton

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