mortgage

You’re used to tightening your belt after Christmas and during the gloomy days of the new year where all you want to do is hibernate at home, but as the days get warmer and Summer seems just around the corner, it becomes more and more tempting to loosen a few notches and get out there to enjoy the sunshine. With the cost-of-living crisis still looming over us, here are some tips on keeping costs down so...

With mortgage rates tripling over the last 12 months, one could be forgiven for thinking buying a Swindon home as a first-time buyer would out of the question.Yet, what if I told you, it is £622 a year cheaper to buy a Swindon home as a first-time buyer than renting, would you be surprised? The average 2-bed home in Swindon is worth £202,879. The monthly homeownership cost of such a Swindon home...

Insights from the 2021 Census The property market is one of the most important economic indicators, as it can significantly impact the prosperity of both the local and national economy.Recently, new data from the Census 2021 has become available that sheds light on seldom discussed areas of property, such as the types of properties Swindon has, together with how we live in and use our homes.This data...

In her first conference speech as the Tory's new leader in 1975, the grocer’s daughter from Grantham, Margaret Thatcher, asserted her conviction in a ‘property-owning democracy’.Although Thatcher didn't conceive the saying – (that credit belonged to Conservative MP Noel Skelton in 1923), it encapsulated what she thought Britain should be.Through prudence, saving and hard work, she believed that...

Extensions can be a great addition to a home, and the light and space they create, not only enhance the flow of fresh air and natural light but may also add significant value to your home. Planning to extend your home can be a bit of a minefield if you don’t have any experience, so first of all, it is important to take your time in deciding whether an extension project is for you. You’ll need to think...

The Swindon property market has changed in the last 12 months, with more Swindon properties coming onto the market. This has given greater choice to Swindon home buyers and buy-to-let landlords. The value of Swindon properties that had their sale agreed upon in the early spring of 2022 (and completed their sale in September 2022) is 13.4% higher than those Swindon properties that had a sale agreed...

Swindon Buy-to-Let Landlords. Would it surprise you that inflation can be very useful when it comes to protecting your hard-earned savings and investment? Some of you reading this will be old enough to remember the 1970s – the bell-bottom trousers, the huge collars, frayed jeans, disco glitter balls, maxi dresses, midi skirts but above everything else - HYPER INFLATION.With inflation currently standing...

This is the question many people are asking right now, and the answer depends on your circumstances. I pride myself on my ability to provide objective, fact-based information on the Swindon property market so potential Swindon house sellers, landlords and buyers can make the best decision for themselves. My role is to educate the potential Swindon house sellers, landlords and buyers and to...

Have you ever felt like stuff just seems to appear in your house? You've got no idea where it came from, and for some reason in the deep, dark, depths of your mind, something is stopping you from getting rid of it. Or, your children have just bought home the 4000th picture they have made at school and you really have ran out of wall, cupboard, and under-the-bed space? We get it, it is easy to walk into...

This April (2022) sees us celebrate the 30th anniversary of Richard James, after opening our doors in Wroughton back in 1992. Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to help clients of multiple generations find their dream homes and have expanded across 8 offices that cover Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. As well as Sales, we are also home to Richard James Lettings, Land & New Homes,...