My South Wales Property Blog

What is the average cost of a house renovation in South Wales?

02nd January 2023

Working out the average cost of a new home in South Wales is easy. You just hop on your favourite sales platform and ask it to do the calculation for you. However, figuring out how much a house renovation is going to cost is a little more challenging. Sale prices don’t tell you a great […]

Avoiding stamp duty: loopholes exposed

02nd January 2023

There are various loopholes, and systems homeowners are using to either avoid paying stamp duty or reduce how much they owe. While you won’t necessarily be able to get out of paying stamp duty (and you shouldn’t, as this is against the law!), there are some loopholes which may help you reduce how much you […]

Types of Property Fraud; All You Need to Know

21st December 2022

Fraud is a big issue when it comes to the property market, and with current advancements in technology, it’s becoming increasingly more common. As a result, property fraud is one of the leading deterrents for potential house buyers in Swansea, Cardiff and the surrounding areas of South Wales, UK. Read on to understand what property […]

Property Auction Sales Collapse

10th December 2022

Auctioneers are getting far lower sales in recent months many local auctions are showing over 50% of lots withdrawn and unsold (at the time of writing December 2022). Auctioneers we are speaking to are now refusing to list properties unless they have very low reserve prices – making it difficult to achieve the higher bids […]

Estate Agency Sales: Lowest Since Pandemic 

05th December 2022

Property sales falling through due to broken chains and funding issues for buyers means that the property market is seeing a downturn in supply and demand of properties. According to Estate Agents up and down the country, homebuyer enquiries fell in August and September – the steepest since the pandemic. This makes it the fourth […]

How to Avoid Selling Your House to Pay for Care

05th December 2022

If you are facing a big care bill, you may be wondering if you need to sell your home. Family members might have encouraged you to move into care, but now you are struggling to pay for it. Today’s care costs are extremely high and continue to rise. This issue is something that is particularly […]

Types of damp and how damp can affect a house sale

01st December 2022

Selling a house with damp can have a host of adverse effects, including lowering the sale price 50 per cent or more! Buyers hate the idea of spending a lot of money on a new home, only to discover that it’s riddled with allergy- and asthma-causing mould spores. Mould or mildew around windows and doors, […]

What not to fix when selling a house

16th November 2022

Are you trying to sell your house in South Wales? You want to present your home in its best light. Potential buyers are of course more likely to opt for properties in good condition, after all. But take a moment before you begin fixing everything you see as being wrong with your house. There are […]

How much does an EPC certificate cost?

04th November 2022

If you’re in the South Wales area and looking to sell or let a property, an EPC certificate is a factor you should consider. Along with the countless other documents needed when selling property, an EPC is a vital document the new owners or tenants will require access to. In this article, we cover everything […]

Why are mortgage interest rates rising?

31st October 2022

Inflation causes prices of all commodities to gradually increase. As that happens, the purchasing power of the average person dwindles, especially if income doesn’t rise at the same rate – which often it doesn’t. Mortgage brokers, in response, have to increase interest rates to combat the hike caused by inflation. If inflation rates are high, […]

Why are Mortgages in South Wales Falling Through? 

31st October 2022

Hundreds of residential mortgage deal offer in the U.K. have been pulled after market chaos sparked concerns about base rates rising as high as 6% next year. Overall, 935 mortgage products were pulled from the market on Tuesday, according to data from money comparison site Moneyfacts. The company said this was the largest ever daily […]

How will the cost of living crisis affect house prices in Wales?

31st October 2022

The increase in the cost of living is likely to cause a slump in the property market due to soaring inflation and a squeeze in surplus funds for people.  This could be particularly problematic for first-time buyers seeking mortgages. Historically the areas that have had the sharpest increases in prices have often been the same […]

Negative Equity After 5 Years

08th October 2022

If you have negative equity after five years, it means that the value of your home is less than the value of the outstanding debt on it five years after you buy it. If you were to sell your home at that moment, you would lose money. Most people buy homes hoping that the price […]

What is included in a homebuyers report?

26th August 2022

When you are thinking about buying a home, there are so many things to consider, whether you are looking at a newer build or older property. One of the most important parts of purchasing a property for home buyers is the homebuyer report. Here, we will take a look at what the homebuyers report is, […]

What is conveyancing?

29th July 2022

Property ownership is often considered to be one of the greatest achievements – but there is a lot to think about before you sign that contract. When you are purchasing a home, you need to consider the legal process of buying, and you may hear many technical terms being used, such as conveyancing. But what […]

What is a homeowner loan?

27th July 2022

Homeowner loans are a type of secured loan that you can take out against the equity in your house to provide you with extra credit, usually at a lower interest rate than personal loans or credit cards. You should seriously consider them if you want to avoid making changes to your mortgage that could potentially […]

What Legal Documents & Paperwork do I Need to Sell My House?

26th July 2022

So, you have decided to sell your property; there’s a lot to consider and get into order, including the documents needed to sell a house. We have compiled a list that might help to get your essential paperwork organised as a starting point.  Contact Mark King Properties today if you are selling a house in […]

Everything you need to know about solicitor fees when selling a house in Wales, UK

26th July 2022

When you’re selling a house in Wales, it’s important to factor in solicitor fees.  There can be a lot of variation in what different solicitors charge, so it’s important to know what to expect.  In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the most common fee structures and what they cover. We’ll also give […]

Estate agent fees: How much does it cost to hire an estate agent?

26th July 2022

Estate agent fees vary from one agent to another, but you can expect to pay around 1.5% – 3% of the sale price of your home. This includes VAT and any other charges. Estate agent selling fees are typically paid by the seller to the estate agent for their services. These services include listing your […]

A Complete Guide to The Cost of Moving House

26th July 2022

Moving house is an exciting prospect, but it is rarely anyone’s favourite thing to do. It entails a lot of work, breaking social ties, looking for new schools for the kids, and such. Among those concerns is the cost of moving house. This article looks into the estimated cost of moving house and how best […]

How long does a mortgage application take?

25th July 2022

A question often asked by first-time buyers is ‘How long does a mortgage application take in the UK?‘  The length of time it takes to get a mortgage varies from lender to lender, but the average is 4-6 weeks. Some lenders can process your application in as little as 24 hours, but that is very […]

How much does a house survey cost?

25th July 2022

The question of “how much is a house survey?” is one that we get a lot. There isn’t a definitive answer, at least not one that works for every situation. There are a lot of variables that go into determining the cost of your house survey. The two main factors are the size of your […]

What to do when your house won’t sell

25th July 2022

Selling your home is a big decision, and even the most straightforward house sales can be stressful. Things can feel even more difficult if you struggle to sell the property. If all you’re thinking is “I can’t sell my house”, it might be worth looking at strategies to move things forward. There are many different […]

All You Need to Know About Remortgaging Your Property

01st February 2022

What does remortgaging mean? Remortgaging means moving your current mortgage to a different/new lender or product against the same property. This could mean applying to the same lender/bank or a new mortgage lender. Remortgaging can help raise money for home improvements or a special purchase, but it is important to consider whether it is an […]

When Was my House Built

02nd October 2021

How to find out the age of your house. A simple way to find out the age of your house is to check the HM Land Registry records, as they have historical ownership records called Title Registers, or Deeds. You can discover the age of any property by checking when the original transfer took place […]