How to Protect Your Property Purchase
The video from Napton Solicitors explains how to protect property purchases, focusing on common pitfalls like gazumping, gazandering, and chain breakdowns. They note that about one‑third of deals fall between price agreement and exchange, largely due to prolonged timelines, survey surprises, lender conditions, and personal circumstances. Speed, momentum, and clear communication are emphasized as defenses. Illustrative quotes: “Gazumping typically is where you agree to buy… and the seller decides to sell to somebody else because they receive a better offer.” and “Gazandering… the buyer reduces their offer just before exchange, pressuring the seller.” They also share a chain rescue story where a top‑buyer stepped in to keep a £4 million chain alive. The advice underscores that buyers should maintain rapid, coordinated progress, rely on solicitors and estate agents for updates, avoid direct seller contact, and use survey results to renegotiate price or repairs. Implementing these steps can safeguard transactions against costly delays or collapse.
Property Market Summary
The video outlines the current property market, noting that shifting interest rates are prompting more cautious buyer behavior and extending transaction timelines. Inventory has risen to its highest level in a decade, giving buyers greater choice and leverage, while serious, value‑driven...
Subsidence - a Homeowner's Nightmare #shorts
Subsidence, the gradual sinking of a building’s foundation, is a common nightmare for homeowners. The video outlines how to spot its tell‑tale signs—cracks wider than 3 mm, diagonal patterns, and damage around windows, doors, or extensions. These fissures typically widen toward the...
Property Market Shift: Sales vs Rentals in 2026 So Far
The Move IQ podcast recorded at Exeter Property Mark conference highlighted how the UK property market is diverging in 2026, with rental demand staying high while the sales side grapples with pricing missteps. Speakers noted that despite a drop in inquiries,...
Legal Fees Explained: The Real Cost of Buying or Selling a House
The video walks viewers through the true cost structure of buying or selling a home, distinguishing between solicitor fees – the professional service charge – and disbursements, which are third‑party expenses such as land‑registry fees, search costs and management‑company charges. Napton...
First-Time Buyer? We've Got You #shorts
The video introduces First Home Focus, a new channel aimed at first‑time homebuyers navigating the myriad financial steps that follow a property purchase. It positions the series as a companion for anyone staring at a mortgage statement and wondering about...
Buy with Confidence #shorts
The video highlights a widening split in the UK housing market: existing owners have amassed substantial equity while a large cohort of first‑time buyers struggles to enter. Mortgage loan‑to‑value ratios have dropped from around 70% in 2012 to 59% today,...
The Legal Side of Buying a Home – Explained Without the Jargon
The video, produced with Napton Solicitors, demystifies conveyancing – the legal process that transfers property ownership and safeguards both parties’ financial interests. Host Phil Spencer and solicitor Sarah Barnes explain why this often‑overlooked step is essential for every home purchase...
Buying May Be Cheaper than Renting #shorts
A recent house‑price index released by a leading UK property portal shows that buying is now cheaper than renting for roughly 40 % of homes on the market, a jump from just 25 % a year earlier. The data signals a notable...
Leasehold Rules Are Changing #shorts
The video outlines the UK government’s upcoming leasehold reforms, beginning with a statutory cap of £250 per year on ground rent for qualifying leases starting in 2028. It also signals a longer‑term ambition to drive ground rent down to a...
First-Time Buyer? Ask Around for Guidance #shorts
First‑time homebuyers often feel overwhelmed by mortgage choices. The video outlines a simple, three‑step approach: start with the bank you already use, tap into personal networks for recent borrower experiences, and enlist a local mortgage broker. By leveraging existing relationships,...
First-Time Buyer Advice #shorts
First-time buyers accounted for over one-third of UK home purchases in January—the highest January share on record—with nearly half of buyers in London now first-timers. The rise is partly attributed to fewer existing homeowners moving, while mortgage conditions are improving:...
Housing Market Update 2026: Liverpool Agents Share the Reality
Liverpool’s housing market has shown a stronger start to 2026 versus 2025, with buyer activity up since Christmas and sales achieving closer to asking prices in some areas, though agents say it remains a buyer-sensitive market that requires realistic pricing....
Where Have Asking Prices Increased Most? #shorts
UK asking prices showed strongest growth in 2025 outside major city centres, led by Harwick in the Scottish Borders with an 18% rise. Durham followed with a 15% increase, driven by jobs, transport links and city living, while Stannington (Sheffield)...
