Government deferring Stamp Duty?

Over the last week, there have been talks of stamp duty payments being deferred to try and help boost the confidence of homebuyers and to try and “stamp out” the current credit crunch.   But will this really help?

Currently, stamp duty is paid on the basis of:

• 1% stamp duty to be paid on properties being sold between £125,000 and £250,000
• 3% stamp duty to be paid on properties over £250,000
• 4% stamp duty to be paid on properties over £500,000

Alistair Darling has said that they are “looking into a number of measures” however they have not concluded exactly what is to be done.  It is believed that a temporary deferral will allow the buyer more time to come up with the funds and prevent the government from losing out on their revenue.  Last year they earned £6.5 billion from stamp duty.

But with rising fuel and shopping bills to add to the equation of mortgage lenders’ unease at lending, will a stamp duty deferral really be enough?  Could we look back at the tactics used in 1991 and temporarily suspend stamp duty for homes under £250,000?

Surely the government would prefer to lose a few ‘bob’ earned through stamp duty than even more people on benefits due to unemployment…

Post your thoughts and comments on what could be done to help the market…

Beat the heat

As a customer of British Gas, I was utterly shocked, and quite frankly appalled, at a 35% increase in fuel bills that was announced at the end of July.  What caught my  attention even more was when their end of year profits were announced - which happened to be in the billions of pounds! 

We can rant and rave at this greedy supplier, but unfortunately it won’t change the rising bills.  So what can we do to keep our bills under control?

• Capped or fixed rates - you need to act quickly though, as some of the best deals have already been withdrawn!
• Switch energy suppliers - they can offer you a great deal if you decide to move
• Switch off appliances after you have used them - this can save around 8% of your electricity bills
• Turn down your thermostat - 1°C can make a world of difference
• Insulate - draught-proofing your home and insulating your hot water tank can save you £’s 
• Create an eco-friendly home - if you are receiving a state benefit (e.g. pension) then you can claim up to £4,000 under the Government’s “Warm-front” scheme to pay for loft insulation, central heating, a new boiler and cavity wall insulation

For more ideas, go to http://www.landandbrandnewhomes.co.uk/b2c/eco_friendly_tips.php

If you have any additional ideas, please let us know

Pallantine Court, Chichester

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are pleased to present …

Bellway, Pallantine Court, Chichester

Chichester is a fascinating city.  It has an ancient story behind it, which is evident through the period architecture, the 12th century Cathedral and the Roman Walls that surround a one and a half mile area of the city.  Yet Chichester also offers residents and visitors beautiful green open spaces, the English Channel, ample shopping facilities, numerous entertainment locations that provide a variety of amenities as well as leisure facilities from water-sports to walking and gymnasiums.  It is clear through the many new home boards and building works taking place that Chichester is a much desired location, so what can we expect from Pallantine Court?

Driving past the Chichester Festival Theatre, it was easy to find Pallantine Court with clear, visible signs guiding me in towards the development.  Parking was provided at the back of the townhouses (a car port for the townhouses and one private parking space per apartment) which enabled me to see the fourteen apartments also being sold on this site.
I entered the sales office where a presentable sales negotiator greeted me and ascertained my current property situation.  Unlike many of the other sales negotiators who lost interest when I was looking for friends, family or would not be able to move straight away, Bellway’s negotiator still took the time to show me round a few of the properties and explained all the specifications.

Entering through the black iron gates, we walked up the path to the show-home.  When the door was unlocked, I walked in expecting a romantic theme to reflect the theatrical named “Shakespeare” townhouses.  Even though this was not the case, I was not disappointed with the modern, light and breezy feel to the spacious townhouse.

The kitchen faces the East and is at the front of the house which allows for the morning sun-light to stream through the windows.  The light coloured cupboards were well contrasted to the dark granite work-surfaces and dark vinyl flooring which provided a comfortable ambience.  A built in oven, hob and cooker hood comes as standard, however the washer/dryer would be negotiable.  The living/dining room is located off the back of the kitchen and faces west enabling the afternoon and evening sunlight to pour through the double-doors that lead to the garden and patio.  The modern floor length curtains and blinds come as standard in the sale.

I was very pleased with all of the bedrooms as they were a very good size and all with plenty of natural light available.  The extra added benefit to the master bedroom is the tiled en-suite.  The bathroom was a good size with dual entrance through the hallway and bedroom and again nicely tiled with a large bathtub.  There is a large study/family room which can be utilized as a guest room or a fourth bedroom.  Even though I was impressed at the sizes of the rooms, I would have liked to see more furniture and accessories within the bedrooms to make it feel cosy.

It is obvious that Bellway understands how important space is as the apartments, both one and two bedrooms, are also spacious with large bedrooms.  50% of the properties have already been sold, which is a testament to its central location, space and quality specs.

What you get for your money:
Prices from £134,962 for “75/25” option or £179,950 for a one bed apartment
Prices from £349,950 for a three/four bed townhouse…

Location, location, location:
A short stroll to Chichester Festival Theatre and the Bell Inn Pub, 10-15 minute walk to Chichester town centre, Sainsbury’s Supermarket one mile away. 

Best feature:
Spacious townhouse, close to bustling town centre, modern interiors with carpets, curtains and blinds included in the sale of the homes.

Worst feature:
Could the properties be over priced for those who work in the nearby hospitals?

Contact the sales office: 01243 530090

• Location:   8 of 10 (Easy access by roads and to amenities)
• Product:    8 of 10
• Sales Negotiator service:   10 of 10 (chatty and knew the specs and local area)
• Value for money:   Good for high earners or those looking for investment opportunities

Overall: Chichester is chic with great entertainment and leisure facilities, apartments and townhouses are spacious and appealing …  

Have you visited Pallantine Court, Chichester?  Do you agree with our ‘Show-home Show-case’?  Post Your Comments.

Legal disclaimer: The impression expressed by “Show Home Hannah” is purely based on their genuine opinion and subjective experience on the specified development site visits. They are based on only as their opinion of what they have encountered and should not be read as a judgement of the business or the employees involved.