Feature – Solicitor professional indemnity market “a perfect storm” – 29th June 2010
Today’s Conveyancer has contacted most of the insurance brokers on the Law Society published list of brokers to discuss their views on how the solicitors’ professional indemnity market is likely to shape up over the coming months. Phrases like “bloodbath”, “disaster”, “toughest year yet” and “perfect storm” are common. No single broker that we have […]
FSA tightens regulation of sale and rent back – 29th June 2010
The sale and rent back market has emerged from an unregulated market where there was a perception that some consumers were entering into agreements with little protection into a much more regulated market. In a trend that has been continuing for months additional regulation has been put in place by the FSA which comes into […]
Land Registry May House Price Index shows a 0.2% Decline – 28th June 2010
As the largest holder of residential property data in the country Land Registry has the largest data set to determine house price changes. Land Registry stated that in the months December 2009 to March 2010, transaction volumes averaged 50,658 transactions per month. This is an increase from the same period last year, when sales were […]
How good lawyers survive bad times (Book Review) – 27th June 2010
The American Bar Association has kindly sent me a journalist’s review copy of “How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times” by Sharon Nelson, James Calloway and Ross Kodner. At 210 pages its a quick and easy read but thought provoking and with many good ideas within it. Now it may be a comment on English football […]
Land Registry confirms dates for closure of Stevenage, Tunbridge Wells, Portsmouth – 26th June 2010
The detail from the budget has hardly been considered but in what appears to be a very timely release Land Registry has reminded us all that it started its cost cutting this March. This is good news for conveyancers as hopefully it means that fee order costs wont have to rise to much to cover […]
myhomemove acquire Easier2Move – 25th June 2010
myhomemove the large conveyancing organisation operating in the UK and supported by Indian outsourcing facilities has announced the acquisition of Easier2Move. Easier2Move (often called E2M) has over the years developed as a panel manager and competed for work from brokers, estate agents and lenders with conveyancers and other panel managers. The panel manager states on […]
New Lender Precise Mortgages appoint Goldsmith Williams and Shoosmiths as their panel – 25th June 2010
Here at Today’s Conveyancer we try to pick things up in a timely manner so firstly an apology for not spotting this one sooner but we still think it will be an interesting read. Precise Mortgages which launched its new buy to let mortgage lending brand on the 24th May has given detailed information […]
Minnow Clutton Cox gain massive web presence – a small firm success story – 24th June 2010
Some would say all small firms are doomed … “it’s so tough to get business in the conveyancing market small firms haven’t got a chance to compete for business as their brands are so weak. Tesco Law is coming, long live Tesco law!” So we interviewed what the partners themselves call “a typical High Street […]
British Bankers Association May mortgage approval figures show little consumer appetite for mortgages – 23rd June 2010
The British Bankers Association which represents the main high street banking groups which account for 2/3 of all UK mortgage lending outstanding have reported their monthly mortgage approvals figures. The banks included in the survey are Santander UK, Barclays, Bradford and Bingley lending, HSBC Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Northern Rock and the Royal Bank of […]
Budget impact on conveyancers – 22nd June 2010
Edward Greeves of Morris and Co an accountant that specialises in legal practices says” the expectation of 40% or 50% rate of capital gains tax didn’t happen and most property owners will be breathing a sigh of relief at a top rate of only 28% for higher rate tax payers. Edward explained that unfortunately the […]
Countrywide acquire Hamptons International – 20th June 2010
Countrywide the largest UK estate agency chain has increased its size by acquiring the 80 branch network of Hamptons International. Countrywide recommends its clients to use Countrywide Property Lawyers a wholly owned licensed conveyancer with a small amount of its work being panelled through Title Absolute. The press release: Countrywide, the UK"s largest estate agency […]
Shoosmiths Spotlight on SDLT sub-sales – 21st June 2010
The following article is republished with the consent of Shoosmiths Since April 2009, HMRC has published a series called Spotlights, highlighting areas in which HMRC perceives tax avoidance is taking place. Whilst these are only HMRC’s views and do not have the force of law, they give a good indication of which areas are likely […]
RICS assess impact of HIP suspension on housing market – 21st June 2010
RICS have surveyed their members on the impact of the suspension of HIP. They have asked four questions with the following results:- 1) Will abolishing HIPS increase the number of new instructions received by estate agents? – 73% felt that it would with a range of responses between […]
Rightmove release June House Price Index – 21st June 2010
Rightmove House Price Index for June comments that – Pace of rises slackens with average national asking prices up by 0.3% – Asking prices are already falling in real terms with RPI at 5.1% compared with a year-on-year rise of 5.0% in asking prices – […]
Searchflow explain pricing issues within the local authority search sector – 20th June 2010
This article was first published in The Orange Rag and is reproduced here with the consent of Charles Christian. http://www.theorangerag.com/blog/_archives/2010/6/17/4555534.html David Kempster, the marketing director of MDA Searchflow comments on new charging regulations and their effect on property search pricing… The way in which charges are levied for search information can be divided into two […]
CML mortgage advance figures for April – 20th June 2010
In April the Council of Mortgage Lenders which represents organisations responsible for 94% of all mortgage lending in the UK says that there were 40,000 home purchase loans advanced valued at £5.7 billion, volumes down by 9% on March. Remortgage volumes declined by 16% in volume terms to 24,000 cases in April. This figure was […]
Knight Frank report healthy top end market – 20th June 2010
In their prime mortgage market briefing for May 2010 Knight Frank have reported as follows: – the number of £500k+ mortgage completions rose by 162% in May compared to May 2009. This dramatic rise reflects the relatively depressed conditions present in the market in the first half of last year. – recent trends […]
Bellway Homes “slight reduction” in sales rates post election – 20th June 2010
Bellway Homes interim management statement covers the 18 week period to the 15th June. It states that whilst sales rates have been broadly in line with expectations at 100 sales per week and with a cancellation rate of 13% there has been a slight reduction. Since the general election Bellway say that “uncertainty concerning anticipated […]
Google launch portal what impact for conveyancers? – 19th June 2010
Estate Agents, vendors and landlords are now able to upload their properties at no cost to Google Maps. Many organisations are contributing their listings including Zoopla, PropertyLive (the lastest Countrywide plc brand), Ezylet, SmartNewHomes, Vebra, Property Pal, Spicer Haart, Countrywide, and Zoomf. Countrywide the large estate agency chain supports the launch with Grenville Turner, Countrywide […]
Book Review: Conveyancing Fees and Duties – 19th June 2010
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21cPS9vbHvL._SL110_.jpg Russell Hewitson Principal Lecturer in Law, Northumbria University has compiled the 35th Edition of Bloomsbury’s title Conveyancing Fees and Duties. Many conveyancers will have used this booklet over the years and the slim easy to navigate booklet must be a useful resource for many practitioners who still prefer books to internet access information. Information […]
