July 10, 2020
The Heatons Property Market – the Last 10 Years
One of my Heatons landlords contacted me last week from Heaton Moor, after he had spoken to a landlord friend of his from Didsbury. He told me they were deliberating The Heatons property market and neither of them could make their mind up if it was time to either sell or buy property following Covid-19. His friend said he would wait to see what would happen to property prices following Covid-19, yet my landlord wanted to pick my brain in order to help him decide what to do.
I said the press are aware bad news sells newspapers and the doom mongers are plying their trade on uncertainty in the world economic situation. Roll the clock back to the Credit Crunch of 2008/9, and there were quite a few landlords in The Heatons who had overexposed themselves with high percentage loan to value buy to let mortgages, backing the hope they would make their money on the capital growth, yet fell foul of a drop in rents and thus got bankrupted (but who could blame them when the property market was rising at 15% to 20% a year in the early 2000’s and banks like Northern Rock were giving mortgages out to anyone with a pulse and note from their Mum).
Thankfully the Bank of England changed the rules on all mortgages in 2014 banning self-certification mortgages, tightening the rules around interest-only mortgages and the requirement around affordability to be checked, plus a tough stress test if interest rates rose. It’s obvious we are going to enter into a recession because of Covid-19, yet this time The Heatons property market is better placed to weather the storm.
However, gone are the days when you could buy any old house in The Heatons and it would make money. Yes, in the past, anything in The Heatons that had four walls and a roof would make you money because since World War 2, property prices doubled every seven years … it was like having a free cash machine.
If a landlord bought a Heatons terraced / town house in the summer of 2000, he or she would have seen a profit of £132,200 to its current value of £214,000, a rise of 161.7%
Nonetheless, if that landlord had bought the same property in 2010, The Heatons landlord would have only made £29,900 profit (a 16.2% increase). Yet since 2010, the country has experienced 31.5% inflation, meaning our Heatons landlord has seen the ‘real’ value of their property decrease by 15.3% (i.e. 16.2% less 31.5% inflation).
And this is my point. Nobody has been complaining about the property market in the last ten years, yet landlords are still worse off in real terms. If we do see a slight dip in property prices because of Covid-19 (looking at the market at the moment I haven’t seen any indication of its slowing down from its post lockdown takeoff), but if we do, The Heatons landlords need to realise property values aren’t the only indicator of whether the property market is good or not.
The reality is, since around the early 2000’s we haven’t seen anything like the capital growth in property we have seen in the past and it’s not predicted to grow at the rates it has previously done either. So, I believe it is high time for The Heatons landlord, pondering investing in The Heatons property to stop believing the hype and do some serious research using independent investment expertise. You can still make money by buying the right The Heatons property at the right price and finding the right tenant.
Think about it, properties in real terms are 15.3% lower than a decade ago, so investing in The Heatons property is not only about capital growth, but also about the yield (the return from the rent). It’s also about having a balanced property portfolio that will match what you want from your investment – and what is a ‘balanced property portfolio’? Well we discuss such matters on The Heatons Property Blog … if you haven’t seen the articles, then it might be worth a few minutes of your time?
June 30, 2020
Heaton Norris Investment Opportunity
If you are a Buy to Let Landlord looking for your next investment then look no further. I have found a house that would be a great investment which is brand new to the market!
Watch my video below to find out more…
June 17, 2020
Investment Opportunity in The Heatons
If you are a property investor looking for your next property then look no further. I have found a house that would be a great investment for both first time Landlords and those with larger portfolios!
Watch my video below to find out more…
June 1, 2020
Property Market in Lockdown?
Two weeks ago today, we formally reopened our doors for both Sales & Lettings, and the demand has been simply incredible. A huge number of enquiries, viewings and offers being agreed to both sides, the effects of the property market coming out of lockdown have been noticed.
May 21, 2020
Hero Fitness
Based on Shaw Road newly formed Hero Fitness are still on downtime at the moment with the lockdown still taking hold. But do not fear, the guys have currently switched to online and park 1 to 1 sessions in accordance to government guidelines. Normally this time of the year it’s a holiday to get you in shape, but many people are concentrating on their mental health and well being which is intelligent in the current climate.
Whether it be improving your cardio or doing online videos, Hero Fitness can cater to your needs.
May 21, 2020
We are Open
Having been working from home for the past few weeks, it’s been great getting back to some sort of normality by opening the office after so many days working from home. With weeks of pent up frustration, we have seen a huge surge of activity with all sales and rental properties creating plenty of viewing.
Working with government guidelines we are ready to work with the strict parameters set. The new changes which include having to make an appointment if you would like to visit the showroom, will dramatically cut the risk of virus spread. Please call the office on 0161 432 1115 if you would like to organise a visit.
The safety of our staff and customers is paramount.
May 21, 2020
Heatons Shops Adapting
As we try and adapt to living with COVID 19, The Heatons is slowly starting to move again as local businesses adapt. Eateries including Nook and Juniper, are starting to provide a takeout service and the wonderful Heaton Moor Golf Course has just opened to the delight of many of its members. With the talk of an impending recession, it is more important than ever that we all get behind our small local businesses.
Fingers crossed everyone survives the pandemic and we can see every four Heatons trader thrive once again in the very near future. The Heatons recent success has been massively impacted by the independent vibe and local events such as the Heatons Summer & Christmas Festivals which have been organised be the 4HTA.
So keep strong, stay safe and please Think Local.
April 20, 2020
Essential Tips For Working From Home
For a small number of people, working from home will be the norm. But for the majority of the nation, the current climate has caused us to quickly adapt our working practices to home working for the safety of ourselves and those around us. In doing this, it is important to create healthy working practices to maintain motivation and routine throughout the day.
We’ve gained advice from those who regularly work from home so that we can share some top tips for the coming weeks ahead. Continue below for our top tips on how you can get the best out of home working:
1. Get ready for the day
Get up and ready for work as you normally would. Getting dressed out of your pyjamas and fresh for the day helps you to maintain a routine and get ready for a day of work. Doing this will signal to your brain that you are going to work and create a good mindset.
2. Have a routine
Working from home can get lonely, so a routine will prevent the day blurring into a mix of work and relaxation time. Creating a morning routine that will guide you into your work chair each day so that you can signal the separation between home and work. Start and finish work at your usual times so that you do not become overworked.
3. Create an office space
If you have a separate office space to work in, then that’s great. But even if you don’t, it is still important to create an area in your home that you can designate and associate with work. Whether that be at a desk, or if it has to be your dining room table, this will support you to keep a routine. At the end of the day, shut down your equipment and put it away. This will signal the end of your working day and the start of your own time.
4. Keep to your regular hours of a working day
With all your work equipment at home, it can be tempting to try and get ahead by setting yourself mammoth tasks that take you all evening to complete. Set yourself achievable goals (as you would when you go into work) so that you maintain your usual work hours and maintain your positivity and optimism. This will also allow you to keep a work life balance.
5. Have regular breaks
When you are in the office, you naturally take short breaks throughout the day. Whether that be to go and make a drink or go and discuss something with a colleague. These breaks away from the computer are crucial for your productivity and health. Breaks away from the computer screen help to break bad posture habits, help with concentration and productivity, and prevent fatigue. This should be no different at home. You can call a colleague for a chat, go and make a drink, or spend some time in a different room for a few moments.
6. Get some exercise
Living and working in the same space can be challenging at times so you may find it important to get a change of scenery. Stepping outside for a walk not only allows you to “leave the office” but also allows you to get valuable exercise (providing this is in line with Government guidelines). Some fresh air and natural light will do you the world of good. With people rarely leaving the house, a short walk could be all the exercise you get in a day so place importance on this. Alternatively, you may want to do a short home workout. There are tons of guides online to help you do this. Let’s not forget about those all-important endorphins.
7. Take your lunch break
You are still entitled to your full lunch break and it is important to take this. Ensure you continue to eat well and take time away from your work space to break up the day. Using this time to get some exercise (as advised in step 7) is a great idea too.
8. Get on the phone
Communication is so important during this time. Working from home can be isolating (especially if you live alone). To overcome this, ensure to keep up with regular team meeting via group calls. Check in with your colleagues throughout the day – even for a general chat not related to work. This is what you would usually do in the office and it is important to maintain this to make the day more enjoyable. Call people instead of email so that you can have proper conversations during the day which is so much more personal that email communication. You could even use Facetime for a more personal touch.
April 16, 2020
Heatons Covid-19 virus – self isolation neighbourhood outreach
If you are living in one of the four Heatons and self isolating in the Covid 19 lock down but need help, then the wonderful people of SK4 are here to help.
It maybe you need help with some shopping OR the dog needs walking around the block. If so please email the neighbour outreach – heatonscovid19@gmail.com
If you would rather talk with someone, then simply call Stockport Council and they will get in touch with the team. Stockport Council Tel – 0161 217 6046.
Well done to everyone involved.
April 16, 2020
Showing Support for the NHS
Located in the heart of Heaton Moor, our showroom windows have been taken over by the wonderful blue colours of the NHS. We wanted to show our support as Doctors, Nurses and Key Workers risk their lives on a daily basis to help Britain through this pandemic. It’s heart warming to hear some of the amazing stories of courage and determination as we unite to face this killer disease.
My favourite story has to be Captain Tom Moore, the War Veteran who has raised millions of pounds by walking laps of his garden. We salute you Sir and to every NHS & Key Worker………..THANK YOU!