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Buying your first home can be difficult but there are things you can do to can help get your foot on the property ladder. Pay Down Debt The first priority when trying to get on the property ladder is to pay down any debt. One of the things that mortgage lenders look at, is how much you spend every month on unsecured debt repayments such as loans and credit cards. This will help them assess ho...

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Buying a property for the first time can be a minefield and a bit overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you with your home purchase. Save Once you know the kind of property you are looking to buy you can work out the amount of deposit you will need, it’s a good idea to make a plan to reach this goal. A regular saving is a lot more effective than relying on one-off amounts. The amoun...

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There are multiple reasons to consider downsizing to a smaller home. Usually the main reason for downsizing is when children have grown up and left the nest. Other reasons for downsizing include releasing cash and equity tied up to the property, in order to increase their finances. This could be to help children go to university or even to help them put a deposit down on their own place. However,...

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Following Thursday’s Government announcement, Stamp Duty Land Tax has been waived for residential properties up to £500,000 in the UK until March 2021. S J Smith Estate Agents has immediately experienced a major rise in new and existing applicants increasing their maximum purchase budget! This ‘holiday’ is not just positive news for buyers to save money, but for sellers to...

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If you’re thinking of buying a new home, there’s some things you should consider. Especially if this is the home you want to settle in for a long time. Location You can make changes to your home but not your neighbourhood. When looking for a new home where you are is important, you need to make sure you’ve got transport options, good schools, and easy access to work. You don&r...

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A lot of the time our kitchens tend to be more than just a place to prepare food – they’re also a multifunctional space for entertaining, working, relaxing and dining. Having these versatile spaces can prove to be very useful and essential to our every day lives. However, if you’re planning on adding some value to your home without having to completely redo your kitchen, here are...

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Thursday 11th June marks four weeks from the reopening of our business, and at S J Smith Estate Agents the property market is still as buoyant as ever. According to Property Website Zoopla, house sales have increased 137% since the reopening of the market, and house pricing increased by 6% from the beginning of March. The ‘would-be’ buyers that were pondering the thought of moving bef...

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Buying a property is probably one of the most valuable purchases you will ever make. However, unless you are lucky enough to buy a property out right, you will need to borrow a substantial amount of money to buy your home. Here’s some tips on how to go about doing that. The mortgage Most buyers will have to have a mortgage which is basically a long-term loan. This can be obtained through...

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Summer is a great time to put your home on the market. It is not just the indoors that needs to impress buyers, your front and back garden are also very key selling points. Especially the front, it is the first thing viewers will see. You have to make a good impression right off the bat otherwise they will automatically think negatively about the property. Hanging baskets and planters These imm...

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As most people are now aware, the government has now given the green light for the property market to resume activity. This is because of the property markets unique role within the economy and the government recognises the importance of this and has asked estate agents to begin to operate again. S J Smith Estate Agents we were proud to be the first local agent to open our doors last Thursday, an...

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