This week, our insatiable hunger for property porn led us to contemporary coastal homes. The collection below brings together some of the finest modern mansions the UK housing market has to offer, and they’re all perched atop cliffs, overlooking harbours or a stone’s throw from the beach.

Click on the photos to see the full listings, complete with lots more pics for you to drool over. All properties were found using the 4Homes Property Search. read more

Permalink||(1) Comment

Earlier today, regulatory body Ofcom cleared our 2007 programme, Best & Worst Places To Live In The UK, of any wrongdoing after the formula and statistics used to calculate the list resulted in Middlesbrough being named the worst of the UK’s 434 boroughs. read more

Permalink||(0) Comments

As a native Brummie, the notion of living near water evokes pangs of romanticism presumably felt in coast-dwellers when they imagine living in the shadow of Spaghetti Junction. Or perhaps not. For me, the only thing better than residing close to the lapping sounds of the waves would be living in an old, characterful period property a stone’s throw from whitetops and weather-beaten beaches.

Following a quick play around with the 4Homes Property Search, here’s five fab houses that are both within touching distance of a river, estuary or the sea, and come with the prestige (or potential headache) of a Grade II listing. Just click on the photos to see the full listing, complete with more photos and info. read more

Permalink||(0) Comments

As tributes flood in following the recent and sad death of pop legend Michael Jackson, questions are beginning to emerge about how to make sense of his complex estate.

It’s no secret that in recent years Jackson was plagued by rumours surrounding his money problems – a remarkable feat for a man who sold over a quarter of a billion albums.  Asset-rich thanks to acquiring a diverse portfolio of land, art, historical artefacts and musical rights, it has nevertheless been reported that at the time of his death Jackson owed anything up to several hundred million dollars in debt. read more

Permalink||(2) Comments

Surprisingly, it’s not all doom and gloom, despite this year’s budget being the most contraversial and gloom ridden in living memory. To find out what it will all mean to you – whether you’re a homeowner, own a second home, are a first-time buyer or rent, go to How Will The Budget Affect You? now…

Permalink||(1) Comment

Last night saw the first episode of Kirstie’s Homemade Home, in which Kirstie Allsopp does up a house in deepest Devon, using, where possible, local materials and craftspeople, and her own enthusiastic but untested craft skills.

So what did you think? For what it’s worth, I think it’s refreshing to have anything on tv that isn’t about making money from your home. I’m not nearly fresh-faced enough to believe that the programme will do anything to change the way we think about our homes – we’ve all invested too much (financially and emotionally) in the whole housing process for us not to look at a house as an investment, even if it’s a long-term one. And with savings rates being as low as they are, many of us still think it’s best to sink hard-earned cash into property rather than put it in a bank.

That said, having done up six houses myself, it’s great to see someone approaching a renovation in a way that doesn’t involve a) trip to DIY store, b) trip to giant furniture store to buy roomset and c) trip to supermarket to buy ubiquitous products to accessorise with. I’m not knocking any of these approaches – we all go to Ikea, for example, because their furniture is cheap, just about stays together AND you can buy a whole room’s worth of furniture that looks really quite good together. The only hassle is getting it through the check out.

However, that kind of room, while stylish, swish, modern and, importantly, affordable, is never going to be unique, individual and one-off – and that’s what really makes a home interesting. And while I don’t want to put anyone out of a job at these bigger high street or retail park stores, I do think it’s high time we all supported local British craftspeople who work really hard, for little profit and almost no national recognition. And if the show does nothing else but to inspire us to think a little bit more imaginatively about how we design and decorate our homes, it will have done a good job.

What do you think?

Permalink||(25) Comments

We’ve just published an informative piece explaining exactly what makes house prices rise and fall. Consider it a beginner’s guide to housing market fluctuations.

The article is by Kate Faulkner, who is a real expert on all things property and homes-related.

Read the full article on what makes house prices rise and fall.

Permalink||(2) Comments

Boris Johnson has reaffirmed his desire to completely and utterly solve the problem of homelessness in London. It would be a fantastic achievement, immeasurably improving the lives of the estimated 3,000 people who, for whatever reason, are left with no other option than to sleep on the streets. Seems unlikely though, particularly when so many others have tried and failed. Good luck BJ.

I just hope Boris doesn’t follow the alleged Sydney approach to homelessness. When the Aussies hosted the games in 2000, city officials were accused of moving people on elsewhere, rather than providing tangible help. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

Permalink||(0) Comments

The guys over at FindAProperty.com reported today that sales of residential plots at auction are booming. It seems we’re becoming a nation of self builders, snapping up 15.6% more plots at auction last month than we did in January ‘08. read more

Permalink||(2) Comments