In recent months, a new breed of firm has emerged which take a new twist on a burgeoning trend. Much like more established companies which offer to buy any vehicle, these online start-ups promise to buy any home for up to 90 per cent of their value. The lure for many house sellers is the transaction can be completed in just a matter of weeks.

If you’re in need of cash quickly, firms such as Webuyanyhouse.co.uk, Quickbuyers.co.uk and Housebuyerbureau.co.uk offer to buy your property so you can achieve a quick sale. However, vulnerable homeowners are being warned that in many cases homeowners are offered just a fraction of the property’s real value and end up tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Peter Bolton King, a spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, was quick to voice his concerns about the new firms: “Homeowners looking for a quick sale are vulnerable by definition and are prime targets for quick sale property websites. Homeowners should know they are unlikely to be offered the value they had hoped for”. More...

Conveyancing is perhaps the most nerve-jangling aspect of buying or selling a property, but mandatory as it is, you need to make sure you find yourself the very best firm for the job.

Conveyancing is the legal process involved in the transferral of a property’s ownership titles from one party to another and can be completed by either a solicitor or a specialist licensed conveyancer. 

The six main duties of a conveyancer

Whether you choose to use the services of an experienced solicitor or a dedicated licensed conveyance, there are six main responsibilities to carry out on behalf of the buyer: More...

Here at Howells Solicitors, we are delighted to report that our conveyancing department has experienced a 47% rise in the number of inquiries and completed transactions when compared to the same period last year.

The figures for the transactions completed and inquiries received by our conveyancing offices during November to December 2012 show an unexpected surge given the precarious state of the economy.

The growth experienced by our five offices across South Wales correlates with national figures released in December by the Financial Services Authority and the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which indicates that banks and building societies are becoming more willing to lend to prospective homebuyers.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner, was quoted in the Western Mail, saying: “There is a plethora of different opinions regarding the current state of the housing market and what might happen in 2013. The Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme is starting to have a positive impact on the housing sector in Wales. 

“Using our own data we have noticed that the number of first-time buyers entering the market is up on the same period last year. We have also seen a significant rise in the number of clients purchasing new builds.”

Over the past couple of weeks, both the Monmouthshire Building Society and the Principality Building Society have launched the lowest rate mortgage deals in the UK for first-time buyers. We believe this will further strengthen the recovery and encourage buyers in South Wales to start shopping around for properties. 

It is particularly encouraging to see the growth we have experienced replicated across the country and throughout the UK. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for 2013.

Commenting on the survey released by the Nationwide Building Society today, Mark Hobbs, Managing Partner at Howells Solicitors, remains positive despite the reported fall in house prices.

Mark says, “Although there has been a fall in house prices in Wales, people are still moving and first time buyers are continuing to enter the market. Across our five south Wales offices, there has been an increase of 47% in the number of enquiries and completed transactions in November and December 2011 compared to the same months in 2011.”

This increase in activity correlates with the positive figures released in December by the Financial Services Authority and the Council of Mortgage Lenders indicating that lending to home buyers has gone up over the past few months. 

They reported that loans to first-time buyers in October increased by 14% compared to September and 19% compared to the same time last year.

Mr Hobbs continued, “There is a plethora of different opinions regarding the current state of the housing market and what might happen in 2013. Our own figures indicate that the conveyancing side of the housing market has been buoyant and the New Build market has contributed to this. Mr Hobbs explained, “We are one of the preferred conveyancers for five of the leading housebuilders in South Wales. There is certainly some optimism creeping back into this market, and it is encouraging to see an increase in potential buyers across parts of the country where the market has particularly suffered in recent years. That said, there is still a long way to go.”

by Tristan Lewis

According to a Legal Ombudsman report issued this week, 7,500 complaints were made during 2011-2012 about solicitors. Residential conveyancing, the area of law where most consumers find the need to engage solicitors, accounted for over 17% of these complaints. 

Mark Hobbs, the Managing Partner of Howells Solicitors, has reviewed the report and is of the opinion that the level of complaints could reduce if clients ask the right questions at the beginning of the transaction and make sure the conveyancer is qualified and has the resources for their specific requirements.

Mr Hobbs noted that the report specifies in some detail that the complaints seem to revolve around, but are not necessarily limited to the following issues: More...