Riverside Retreat

Harmoniously complementing its surrounding, ‘Dragonfly’ is a fine example of unexpected contemporary architecture blending perfectly within a historic and picturesque landscape. Nestled on the banks of the River Stour within a truly magnificent setting, this unique 4 bedroom family home offering untold versatility. The captivating flow between interior and exterior in the open plan living areas and the capacious terraces merge, revealing spectacular views sweeping across the open countryside and water meadows of the Stour. 

Arlington & Hall are delighted to extend their unique portfolio in this ever desirable country marketplace. Full brochure available, please contact Harry or Cliff on 01202 744944 for further information.

Budget 2013 – Property Market Comment.

Cliff Hall of Arlington & Hall considers the impact the 2013 Budget may have on the residential property market.

The British public are serious about housing. They are serious about looking at it, choosing it, buying it, improving it and, when the time comes, they are serious about selling it. It is a national obsession.

Sadly, successive Governments don’t seem to have been quite so serious or obsessive as the electorate and, thus far, the coalition’s behaviour has been little different. Over the past few years there has been a number of lacklustre housing initiatives which have not effectively managed to stimulate a sector stubbornly refusing to rally much from the banking crisis. 

The 2013 Budget had few real headlines. But at least housing was a major feature. While no new real initiatives were announced, alterations to existing measures did catch the eye: £3.5bn in capital spending over three years to shared equity loans and a loan of up to 20% of a home's value to be offered to people looking to move up the housing ladder. It remains uncertain whether these measures will be enough in themselves. It is confidence that really stokes the property market, not rhetoric or spin, which can never replace the essential drivers of personal desire, affordability and the tantalising promise of a good investment return.

Time will tell if these new measures will be enough. Meanwhile the market continues to improve in some areas better than others.   London and the southeast lead the way with foreign buyers targeting the capital as a safe haven for their money - London being better than Cyprus for investment just now! With the added benefit of a falling pound this seems set to continue and has the potential of helping to lift London prices further still through the year. In other parts of the country it is the local economies that will affect the regional housing markets.  So the Chancellor’s Budget measures for regional enterprise, personal tax and small businesses may provide an extra welcome stimulus.

Land Registry launches Property Fraud Line for Home Owners

A property fraud line launched today lets owners who are concerned that their property might be subject to a fraudulent sale or mortgage quickly alert Land Registry.

Callers can speak to specially trained staff for practical guidance about what to do next. The telephone number is 0300 006 7030 and the line is open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

The properties most vulnerable to registration or mortgage fraud are usually empty, tenanted or mortgage-free. Individuals at a higher risk of fraud include owners who do not live in the property because they live abroad, are buy to let landlords, are in long term hospital or residential care or where a relationship has broken down.

Land Registry's top tips to help owners protect their property from fraudsters

* Make sure your property is registered. If you become an innocent victim of fraud and suffer a financial loss as a consequence, you may be compensated.

* Once registered, have up-to-date contact details so we can reach you easily.

* You can have up to three addresses on the register, email addresses or an address abroad can be used. The more information you provide, the more chance we have of reaching you if we need to.

Harbour Haze

Open Weekend

Sat 19th & Sun 20th January 2013 11.00am - 3.00pm

22 Salterns Way | Lilliput | Poole| Dorset BH14 8JR

Arlington & Hall are delighted to invite you to join us at the launch of ‘Harbour Haze’.

‘Standing on the water’s edge, this superlative brand new development of just 3 meticulously finished apartments enjoys a breathtaking outlook across the Blue Lagoon towards Poole Harbour. A triumph in contemporary design.’ 

Unique in its location and elegant in its interior, each 2 bedroom apartment is an intelligently planned space, highly individual utilising sophisticated palettes creating distinctive character. Attention to detail is evident throughout with each room designed to the best view vantage, magnificent views sweep across the Blue Lagoon and Poole Harbour towards Poole Quay, Brownsea Island and the rural Purbeck Hills beyond.

Please contact Cliff or Harry on 01202 744944 for private viewings prior to the dates shown. We look forward to seeing you!

Enchanting Equestrian

Well fenced and orientated to equestrian use, a sympathetically refurbished thatched Grade II listed 4 double  bedroom former farmhouse with premium equestrian facilities. 

Beautifully remodelled, the highly sophisticated interior blends soft clean lines with decisive character and a wealth of original features. Architecturally designed with the upmost comfort in mind, the flexible family accommodation extends to approximately 4156 sq ft.

Set amid 52 acres, offering a fully equipped professional yard with all weather menage and American barn style stabling comprising 11 internal loose boxes and a further 7 external facing boxes. Situated in the picturesque village of Winfrith Newburg within close proximity of local amenities, excellent bridleways and key equestrian competition venues.

Price Guide £2,900,000

Arlington & Hall are delighted to extend their unique portfolio in this ever desirable country marketplace. Full brochure available, please contact Cliff or Harry on 01202 744944 for further information.  

Could these be some of the most expensive streets in the UK?

The Land Registry have published the latest market trend data giving access to actual achieved sold prices of properties locally up to the end of September 2012.

The most expensive roads in Poole 2012.

                                                                                             No. of Sales                        Average Price

Western Avenue, Branksome Park, Poole                              1                                      £4,000,000

Shore Road, Sandbanks, Poole                                               1                                      £3,600,000

Old Coastguard Road, Sandbanks, Poole                              2                                      £2,375,000

Mount Grace Drive, Evening Hill, Poole                                   1                                      £2,375,000

Branksea Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole                                      2                                      £2,262,500

Haig Avenue, Canford Cliffs, Poole                                          5                                      £1,989,000

Chaddesley Glen, Canford Cliffs, Poole                                  7                                       £1,754,643

Links View Avenue, Canford Cliffs, Poole                                1                                      £1,700,000

Bury Road, Branksome Park, Poole                                         3                                      £1,675,000

Alington Close, Evening Hill, Poole                                           1                                      £1,575,000

The Land of Opportunity

With the summer behind us Cliff Hall of Arlington & Hall Estate Agents takes a look at how the property market is shaping up this autumn.

Some commentators consider that the property market is still over-valued by up to 20%. And that somehow it is tenuously suspended above reality by the slender threads of quantitative easing, very low interest rates and a little market traction generated from central London. These people predict a hard landing. But is that very likely? Although there are doomsayers who predict more falling property prices theirs is an overall view and each region will behave differently: there may well be enough activity to ward off further slippage. Along the South Coast there certainly seems enough life in the market generated by those making non-discretionary sales and purchases. If this continues until the banks and other lenders finally sort themselves out and do what they are supposed to do, then another bump should be avoided.

But where is the activity that we do have coming from? Buying and selling property in this market is certainly not just the exclusive province of the fortunate: it is the exclusive province of the determined. There seems to be plenty of people whose lives and circumstances are leading them to buy property and it is this group that is keeping the market as buoyant as it is, these who in time will no doubt be very pleased that they acted when they did, as this is a market of certain opportunity. To all those politicos who insist we have a housing crisis this may all come as a big surprise. They need to accept the fact that what we really have is a crisis of mortgage lending coupled with low confidence – it is the economy. In some respects a housing crisis may even be preferable to the perfect storm we have now, which is why our leaders may be calling it that.

For those determined souls who are coming into the market there are some pitfalls to beware of. Sellers with too ambitious an asking price and unreasonable expectations in the prevailing conditions will find things tricky.

Buyers should also remember that while the market favours them it does not favour them completely. Realistic offers will be treated, at worst with polite encouragement. Unreasonable offers will not.

But treat buying, selling and others – including us estate agents if you will - with a little understanding and there really are some great deals to be done, even in this market. If you are determined, then welcome to the land of opportunity.