Korter.co.uk, London, NJ (2026)

03/01/2022

Korter is a company with an office in Ukraine🇺🇦, which helps people find a cosy and safe home.

Right now, there is a war going on all over Ukraine. At this very moment, our own home is getting destroyed by Russia.

It’s really important for us to convey the truth to the whole world. The following are reliable news sources that you can trust:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60525350
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/

You can also send financial support to the Ukrainian army. Find more information on the website of the National Bank of Ukraine.

IBAN of the National Bank of Ukraine: UA843000010000000047330992708

02/17/2022

The changing skyline of Manchester

For the past few years, Manchester has been gaining more popularity among homebuyers. Property investors from around the world have decided to invest their funds in the city’s real estate market.

Attracted by the rising demand, property development companies have turned their attention to the Northern Powerhouse. As a result, the city’s skyline has seen a drastic change in recent years with new high-rise buildings popping up all over the place. There’s nothing surprising about it since in 2020 Manchester was recognised as Europe’s seventh most active property market.

Even the pandemic couldn’t stop the growth in the number of new construction schemes. Moreover, many people believe that 2022 will see the largest number of completed developments yet. Still, some are worried that demand for property will outweigh supply despite the rapidly growing number of new projects. But we’ll have to see what happens. The events of the last couple of years have proved that you can’t be sure about anything these days.

What are your thoughts on new skyscrapers emerging in Manchester? Do you like the way the city’s skyline is changing? Share your opinion in the comment section!

Also, don’t forget that you can find all the new developments in Manchester on Korter.co.uk, regardless of whether you’d like to buy an apartment in a high-rise building or a small cosy house away from the city centre.

02/10/2022

Questions to ask when buying off-plan

Many people consider buying property off-plan a risky deed. Although there are plenty of perks, buyers should be careful when purchasing real estate before the developer has finished building it.

However, we are convinced that research is your best weapon when dealing with the unknown. Therefore, we suggest making sure that you have all of the following questions answered before making a purchase.

1. Find out what will happen if the developer becomes bankrupt. This is one of the biggest concerns when dealing with off-plan properties. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your contract gives you the right to receive your deposit back in certain circumstances.

2. Check whether the developer has the planning permission.

3. If you’re buying a leasehold property, ask to see the lease agreement. Make sure to go through it with your conveyancer before making a purchase.

4. Make sure that you know exactly what’s included in the price. While some developers offer incentives to sweeten the deal, others make you pay extra for fixtures and fittings.

5. Ask whether there will be any estate management charges.

6. Ask to see detailed specifications and plans. Don’t trust the brochure as its main purpose is to sell you the property.

7. Make sure that you can see the real estate before completion to check it over and ask the developer when you can have a snagging survey done.

8. Find out the completion date and what will happen if it’s delayed.

What else would you ask? Let us know the comment section below!

02/03/2022

It’s been a while since the last time we reviewed one of London’s boroughs. This time, we’ve decided to look into Lewisham, an inner borough in South London.

In the last few decades, Lewisham has seen tremendous improvement in various areas. Thanks to large investments in the borough’s development, it has become a much more attractive and prestigious area to live in.
However, despite the borough’s rapid growth, it’s still one of the most affordable parts of London to buy or rent a property.

Another perk of living in Lewisham is its transport links. The borough has access to the DLR services, connecting the area to Canary Wharf, as well as great train links.

Lewisham is also a perfect area for nature lovers. The borough with its numerous parks and green spaces has been awarded Green Flag Awards for several years in a row, which is an impressive feat in itself but especially so for an inner-city borough as the outer boroughs tend to have much more greenery.

In addition, Lewisham has been selected as the London Borough of Culture in 2022. The year-long programme is meant to celebrate the borough’s diversity via art, music, dance, and much more. With a special emphasis on the climate emergency, it will unite all of Lewisham’s communities and various neighbourhoods to tell the story of the borough’s trailblazers.

For those of you who are interested in Lewisham’s real estate, here are our top 5 new developments in the area:
1. Deptford Foundry
2. The Pomeroy
3. L&Q at The Timberyard
4. Arden
5. The Scene

Thinking of moving to Lewisham and buying a home? Go to Korter.co.uk to explore new residential complexes available in the area. You can find more details on all of the above-mentioned developments on the website as well.

What area should we explore next?

01/21/2022

Top 3 Most Popular Home Counties for Relocation in 2021

Due to the pandemic, more and more people are moving away from big cities to seek some peace and quiet. The number of employees working remotely is rapidly growing, allowing them to have a wider choice of areas to move to.

A mass shift to home working has led to another interesting trend - people are buying more homes located further from train stations than before. It seems that transport connectivity is no longer their main priority. Instead, families pay more attention to schools, making such counties as Kent with its numerous grammar schools more popular.

Now let’s see what Home Counties are the most in-demand among home buyers.

1. Hampshire. The biggest county in the South East offers a perfect mix of coast, city, and country. The most popular destinations are East Hampshire and Eastleigh. Hampshire has been attracting people of all ages although the majority are under 35 years old.

2. Kent. Known as the ‘Garden of England’, Kent boasts a great collection of ancient woodlands and farmlands as well as two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. According to the recent data, the most popular town to move to is Maidstone. The people relocating to Kent are mainly 20-24 years old.

3. Essex. Attracted by a wide array of beaches, ancient landmarks, and lush countryside, a growing number of people choose Essex as their new home. Recently, Tendering and Uttlesford have had the biggest number of newcomers. Essex is mainly attracting younger generations.

What are your thoughts on the top 3? Would you consider moving to one of the above-mentioned areas? Let us know in the comment section below!

If you too are thinking about relocating to one of the Home Counties, visit Korter.co.uk. The website provides detailed information on all new developments, located in London, Greater Manchester, and Home Counties, helping you easily find your future home.

01/14/2022

There has always been a stigma attached to retirement facilities.

When thinking about retirement homes, most people usually imagine a few retirees sitting in rocking chairs while knitting scarves or playing board games. However, time doesn’t stand still, and retirement properties have changed a lot during the last decades as people are living longer than ever.

Many have proved already that life after retirement can be as vibrant and exciting as before. Modern retirement homes strive to provide the most comfortable accommodation and services to ensure that their residents can enjoy their retirement to the fullest.

Nowadays, retirement properties often offer a wide range of various amenities and facilities. Some of the most popular options include:
▪️ Cinema
▪️ Beauty salon
▪️ SPA
▪️ Restaurants, bars, and cafés
▪️ Gym
▪️ Swimming pool
▪️ Yoga facilities
▪️ Library

In addition, such developments tend to offer domestic and practical support from trained staff, coupled with on-site medical care. Various accessibility and safety features are usually a given.

The pandemic has boosted the popularity of retirement villages as dealing with a lockdown is much easier when you have a supportive community and good company. If you’re looking for a modern retirement home, check out Korter.co.uk. The website helps you find a perfect property using a convenient search system. Don’t forget to tweak the filters to tailor the search to suit your needs.

12/30/2021

The UK's housing market in 2021

House prices in December 2021 saw a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2020. The average price reached an all-time high at £254,822, showing the fastest growth rate in 15 years.

Many would’ve expected a decrease in demand this year. However, due to the stamp duty holiday and a piqued interest in bigger properties as more people work from home and strive for more space after being confined within four walls, the demand has remained strong.

Some people expect the market to slow in 2022 since the stamp duty holiday ended in September, although the following months haven’t shown any signs of a significant decrease in demand yet.

Meanwhile, Korter.co.uk has worked hard throughout the year to help you find your dream home. This year, we’ve also expanded beyond London.

Now, the website has the following numbers:
▪️London - 396 projects
▪️Greater Manchester - 123 projects
▪️Berkshire - 49 projects
▪️Buckinghamshire - 43 projects
▪️Essex - 59 projects
▪️Hertfordshire - 53 projects
▪️Kent - 80 projects

If you’re looking for a new build property, you can visit Korter.co.uk and take advantage of our convenient search tools.

🎉May everyone find a perfect home in the upcoming year!

12/23/2021

If you’re struggling to buy a property, you may want to take a look at some government-backed schemes.

Last week, we talked about Shared Ownership, which helps you get a home even though you technically only own a share of the property. For those who would like to get full ownership right away, there is the Help to Buy equity loan.

To be eligible for the Help to Buy scheme, you must be:
▪️18 or over
▪️a first-time buyer

In addition, the property you’re buying must be a new build sold by a Help to Buy registered homebuilder. Depending on the region the home is in, there are different maximum property purchase price limits. Make sure to check them.

📌Tip: to find Help to Buy eligible properties, you can go to Korter.co.uk, open New Projects, and tick the Help to Buy box in the Buying Schemes filter menu. The website has all new build developments in London, Greater Manchester, and the Home Counties.

How the scheme works
You are provided with a loan of up to 20% (40% in London) of the property purchase price so that you’ll only need to pay a minimum deposit of 5% and get a mortgage of at least 25%. For instance, your equity loan covers 20%, while a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage make up the rest of the sum.

Interest payments
▪️The first 5 years – 0%
▪️In the 6th year – 1.75% (of the equity loan amount)
The annual interest is divided into monthly payments. It’s also important to note that the interest rate increases every year in April.
▪️Additional fees - a monthly management fee of £1

🔸What is in your opinion better: Shared Ownership or Help to Buy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

12/21/2021

Shared Ownership is a scheme that helps people get a home when they can’t afford to buy one. It’s usually considered as halfway between buying and renting. You own a share of a property – usually between 25% and 75%, while a housing association owns the rest. You can pay a mortgage on the share you own and a below-market-value rent on the remaining portion.

However, a housing association allows you to buy more shares over time, which is called ‘staircasing’, meaning that in the end you can even get full ownership of the home.

What are the pros of Shared Ownership?
1. Deposits are easier to afford since you get a mortgage on a share of a home instead of its full price.
2. Consequently, monthly repayments are also more affordable.
3. It’s possible to increase the amount of shares you own by staircasing and even get full ownership in the end.
4. You can sell the shares you own at any time.
5. The rent payments are lower than renting privately.
6. You can either pay Stamp Duty land tax on the whole value of the property right away or choose to pay in stages as you staircase.

What are the cons of Shared Ownership?
1. Not all lenders offer mortgages for Shared Ownership although the number is constantly increasing.
2. Regardless of the size of your share, you must pay the ground rent and service charge in full.
3. There may be some restrictions on what alterations you can carry out.
4. When you staircase, you purchase additional shares at the price based on an independent valuation at the time, meaning that if the value of your home increases, it’ll cost more to staircase.
5. There are also some additional expenses during staircasing as you need to pay for surveys, legal fees, and mortgage fees every time you acquire another portion of the home.
6. Shared Ownership properties are leasehold, meaning that you need to be aware of the term of your lease.

If, after weighing up all the pros and cons, you decide to buy a Shared Ownership home, you can search for available properties on Korter.co.uk. Don’t forget to use the Buying Schemes filter.
If you’re struggling to find the right property, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help!

12/09/2021

New Build Homes vs. Old Homes

The process of purchasing a home may be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.

Although the pandemic has left a lasting effect on the real estate market, there is still an abundance of options that you need to look through in order to find your dream home. To narrow down your search, you can make a list of all your needs and preferences that will define your criteria.

One of the very first decisions you need to make is between new build homes and older properties. Both options have their own pros and cons. However, you need to take into account your specific situation and unique circumstances to make the right decision.

Why do people choose new build homes?
1. Home buying schemes such as Help-to-Buy and Shared Ownership
2. Modern living that includes a wide range of on-site amenities and even smart home features
3. Energy efficiency due to strict regulations and modern technologies
4. No onward chain
5. Warranties
6. Ability to customize as developers often offer a few design options to choose from
7. Low maintenance as everything is new and doesn’t usually need immediate repairs

Why do people choose older properties?
1. More freedom to negotiate and haggle prices
2. History and unique character, especially with period properties
3. A more established community with a well-developed infrastructure
4. Older homes tend to be more spacious
5. You can see exactly what you get, unlike with new builds
6. Possibility to buy an existing home with some issues and increase its value with some renovations

What else do you think we should add to the lists above? Let us know!

If you’re interested in buying a new build home, check out available options on Korter.co.uk 🧡

Korter.co.uk

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