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Moving can be spooky, but with the choice of property available, and the back up of our first rate team Acres will remove the scary part of selling, or buying.

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Thank you for reading and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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We are delighted to announce that following Chris’s exceptional work at our Great Barr office, greatly assisted of course by his superb team, that the partnership now welcomes Chris in as an Associate partner of Acres.
 
Chris commented " As a family business I have from my childhood aspired to join the team and continue the outstanding service and success Acres have enjoyed over the past 32 years. I very much look forward to the continuing success and growth of Acres, to working with the Partners, my parents, Nigel & Jayne, and to the future decades to come with my fiance Natalie, whom I met at Acres, and with my sister Katie who is based at our Walmley office, as well as of course the excellent, dedicated team / managers we have "
 
Chris's interest in agency was there since childhood, always saying he wanted to be part of the family business. Initially joining a corporate agency, rather than taking the “easy” route by joining the family business Chris trained initially for two years in lettings as he felt to have a full knowledge of all aspects of agency was paramount. Joining Acres seven years ago as a negotiator his flair, and proactiveness soon shone through. Progression was earnt; accordingly, Chris became manager of our Great Barr office taking it from its already strong position to market leader.

 If you are considering a move and live within the Great Barr area please give Chris, or his outstanding team a call on 0121 358 6222 or email Chris  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

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Taking out a mortgage is likely to be the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make, and so you'll want to find the best deal you can. The good news is there’s plenty you can do to improve your chances of getting your mortgage application accepted – follow our top 10 tips to help you get the mortgage you want

 

If you’re thinking about how to get a mortgage, you should be aware of the factors that affect your eligibility. These include: your credit score, length of time in current job, current debts, whether you’re self-employed and of course the size of your deposit.

 

Follow our top 10 tips below to find out how to get the mortgage you want.

 

1. Your credit score matters

Before applying for a mortgage, get a copy of your credit reportwhich is held by credit reference agencies such as Experian or Equifax. This will allow you to see what lenders see when they review your application.

 

If your credit rating isn’t looking that great, there are lots of simple things you can do which can give your score a boost. For example, check you are on the electoral roll and close down credit card accounts which you no longer use.

 

2. The starting point is your own sums

Sit down and work out your budget before applying for a mortgage. You will need to be sure you can borrow enough to cover the purchase of the property and that you’ll have enough spare to cover all the associated costs and fees.

 

Monthly mortgage repayments will depend on how much you want to borrow (and over how long) and the interest rate charged.

 

3. You’ll be better off in the same job

Lisa Brown of Acres Financial Services said; “ Most lenders will want to see that you’ve been with your employer for some time before they’ll give you a mortgage, so if you’re thinking of switching jobs, it’s a good idea to hang on until you’ve got your mortgage in place. Many lenders like to see you have been in your existing job for at least three to six months.”

 

4. Debts don’t help

If you’re submitting a mortgage application, the last thing any prospective lender is going to want to see is that you owe a load of cash on credit cards or you’ve got outstanding loans.

 

Claire Allen of Acres Financial Services said " Before you apply for a mortgage, try to reduce any debts you have – this will help demonstrate that you manage your money responsibly. It will also mean you will potentially be able to borrow more when it comes to a lender’s affordability calculations. "

 

 

5. You’ll need proof of income

Mortgage lenders will want to see proof of how much you earn, so you’ll probably need a P60 form which you get every year from your employer and shows a summary of your pay and how much tax has been deducted.

 

You’re also likely to be asked for three months’ worth of bank statements and payslips so the lender can look at both how much you have coming in as well as your outgoings.

 

6… or accounts if you’re self-employed

Getting a mortgage when you’re self-employed can be more tricky, especially if you’ve only recently decided to go it alone. Lenders want proof of income and so they’ll usually ask to see SA302 forms relating to the current / recent years from HMRC, or your full trading accounts.

 

7. The bigger the deposit the better

The more you can save up to put down as a deposit, the bigger the choice of mortgages that will be available to you. Lenders reserve their best rates for those with hefty deposits, so you’ll also benefit from lower monthly payments because you’ll have qualified for a better deal.

 

8. Buying with someone else can be easier

If you are struggling to building up a decent deposit on your own, you might want to think about buying with someone else. This could boost your chances of securing a decent mortgage, particularly if they’ve got an excellent credit history and a higher income than you. But remember that this is a big commitment, so you’ll need to sit down and work out with the other person what would happen if one of you wanted to move in future.

 

9. You shouldn’t chop and change your application

Once you’ve started your mortgage application, don’t mess around with it and start changing figures as it could hold up your property purchase.

 

10. It can pay to get help

If you’re struggling to find the right mortgage deal, or you don’t know what you’d be eligible for or how much you can borrow, it is always a good move to have the help of a mortgage broker. They can research the market for you and help you through the application process so you don’t have to go it alone.

 

Here at Acres we offer a comprehensive mortgage service giving independent financial advice, with access to the whole of market / high street lenders, often with exclusive deals. For further help please call any of our offices detailed below, or click to the link above.

 

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

 

Information provided by

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/first-time-buyers/top-ten-tips/

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Housing changes the UK hopes to see

 

Before the election, property experts Rightmove carried out a survey to ascertain what this new government’s priorities should be when it comes to housing. Here is a roundup of what the nation is hoping for.

 

Speed up housebuilding

One of the top recommendations was making improvements to the housebuilding process1. Buyer demand has increased by 15% since 2019, but the number of available homes has not increased at the same rate. In fact, supply is 6% lower than before the pandemic. The rental market has experienced a similar challenge – tenant demand is 32% higher than 2019 but supply of rented homes is down 38%.  As a result, asking prices and rents have increased. To solve this, Rightmove’s property expert Tim Bannister suggests “smoother planning processes to transform the delivery of new homes and produce more affordable housing”.

 

Help for first-time buyers

Another top priority was providing better support for first-time buyers (FTBs). It is perhaps unsurprising that this was the most popular request from renters, as now is a particularly challenging time to get a foot on the property ladder and the average age of FTBs is increasing2. Rightmove’s mortgage expert, Matt Smith commented,“it’s critical that the government works with regulators and lenders from day one on any mortgage solutions, to ensure buy in and take up, which will in turn create more options for first-time buyers.”

 

Reform Stamp Duty

Many have called for changes to Stamp Duty1. FTBs in England and Northern Ireland have been exempt from Stamp Duty on homes up to £425,000 since 2022. But this exemption (due to end in April 2025) is not beneficial for most FTBs in the capital, where house prices are higher than the rest of the UK. With this in mind, Tim Bannister reflects, “With such regional differences in property prices, increasing Stamp Duty thresholds in line with these regional differences would seem a logical first step for Stamp Duty reform.”

 

Make homes greener

Homeowners and renters would like to see the government put some incentives in place to encourage people to make their properties greener. Following Rishi Sunak’s announcement that private rented properties will no longer have to meet the minimum EPC rating of C, many landlords have put their plans to improve energy efficiency on the back burner. Rightmove commented, ‘Homeowners also need better and easier access to schemes that enable them to make green improvements, with the recognition that each home requires different improvements and that currently the upfront costs are a big barrier to change.’

 

We’re here for you

As the UK settles into the new government, we are here to help you through any changes.

 

 

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

 

1Rightmove, 2BSA

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Did you know that Spring tends to be the best time to sell a property? It’s true – the Spring months of March to May are arguably the best and most consistent months for property sales year in, year out. Whether you’re an investor or homeowner looking to sell your property, here are the top five reasons why SPRING is the best time of year to get your property on the market and ready to sell.

1. High level of demand and need for supply


The warmer Spring months with lighter, brighter days tend to be more appealing for property hunting than the heat of the Summer or the freezing cold of the Winter. With an increase in demand for properties, it makes sense for sellers to take advantage of the selling opportunities and put a property on the market.

2. It’s the season of new beginnings


Spring is typically a season associated with new beginnings – you’ll see new buds appearing on trees, new flowers emerging from ground and new life in nature – and this feeling of newness seems to flow through to the property market too. It’s a time when people begin to think about new possibilities and make plans for the rest of the year, such as buying a new property and moving house.

3. Spring weather boosts kerb appeal

The lighter, brighter days of spring can significantly help to boost the kerb appeal of properties. The days tend not to be as dark and dreary as they can be during the heart of winter (bar the occasional weather decline!) and better natural light helps improve the exterior view of properties. For example, it can bring out the natural colour of stone or bricks or make architectural features look better.

Even if you don’t have a property with a garden, there’s likely to be trees coming into bloom or flowers blossoming in your neighbourhood, which can reflect positively on your property too. If you have an apartment with a balcony, a few pots of pretty Spring flowers could brighten up the outdoor space and add an inviting appeal.

4.Spring light aids interior photography

In the same way that improved natural light aids exterior kerb appeal, so too will it help aid the interior photography of your property. Good photos are a key element of successfully selling your property and it definitely makes a difference when there’s better natural light in which to take them. They’ll be less time-consuming editing involved to get them up to scratch and, in theory, it could be quicker for your agent to get your property listed.

5. It’s better weather for moving

On a practical note, for those that are thinking of moving, Spring is a more appealing time to do so. The weather tends to be better than during the Winter and you’re not yet thwarted by the energy-zapping heat that Summer can bring. Plus, for families with children, it’s likely to be an easier time of year to move, whilst they’re still at school and so they can be settled in a new home before a new school year starts in September.

If you need any help, or advice on your purchase and of course mortgages we here at Acres can help, Click here to use our multiple mortgage and stamp duty calculators

If you’re thinking of selling your property to take advantage of the Spring boost in sales, don’t forget to get your property looking its best first. A good spring clean can freshen up your interior and a quick lick of fresh paint on your front door can make the world of difference and improve the look and feel of your property – those first impressions really count! Contact us today to get your property on the market now

 

Want to check how much your home is worth? You can get an Instant Valuation here.  

If you would like to discuss selling your home, please get in touch with us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Lettings                                  0121 312 4997

Mortgages                            0121 387 1616

Thank you for reading this article, and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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