Author: Diane

Polesden Lacey

Polesden LaceyPolesden Lacey is a beautiful Edwardian house. It is at North Downs at Great Bookham, near Dorking. It is a National Trust property and you can go on guided tours of the house and have it’s interesting history explained.

The house was bought in 1908 by Mrs Greville who had it renovated so that she could hold weekend parties for everyone who was anyone – royalty, politicians and the cream of society.

Photo: Geoff Stafford and used with permission.

A tower

A unique, listed building
A unique, listed building with considerable historical significants. The Tower is arranged over six floors, with incredible views as far as London to the East and the Chilterns to the West.

Stamp Duty Ending soon

So did the holiday from stamp duty benefit anyone?

As the holiday on stamp duty draws to an end, the government is starting to look
for alternative ways to boost the first time buyer market. However the question
remains, did the 1% tax exemption for first time buyers benefit anyone?

The tax exemption for first time buyers purchasing houses under £250,000
would see 9 out of 10 first time buyers saving up to £2500. To compensate
for this 1% decrease in tax for first time buyers however has been compensated
for a 5% tax on homes costing over £1m.

The chancellor, George Osborne’s review of the stamp-duty holiday described
the attempt at relieving first time buyers as “disappointing” as it
had failed to get more first time buyers onto the market. Nationally, first time
buyers count for two thirds of the property market, but with the number of first
time buyers at a record three year low, the government will have to do a lot more
to help people onto the property ladder.

The problem really lies in the difficulty of first time buyers saving enough money
for a deposit and the difficulty in securing a mortgage. High unemployment and
a weak economic outlook are just mere factors making the property ladder unreachable
for many. However, the government did suggest that the new housing strategy will
encourage lenders to give 95% of mortgages to first time buyers, with the aim
of reassuring first time buyers that they can secure a mortgage.

So should first time buyers be discouraged? Certainly not, although the stamp
duty holiday is coming to an end, there is no reason to stop looking for a way
onto the property ladder. For guidance of house prices and properties available
in your area, free property portals such as Propertyads
make the search for a home more relaxed as you can do it from the comfort of your
own home, without pressured sales speak of overly excited estate agents.

9 bedroomed house

Grade II listed 9
Grade II listed 9 bedroom farmhouse, early 19th Century, with accommodation on three floors with a single storey kitchen. There is a rear yard and adjoining courtyard of traditional stone and slate barns. Garden at the front plus kitchen garden, two ranges of farm buildings and set in 22.5 acres. The land is principally pasture lying to the south of the farmstead.
Stunning house with massive potential

This house looks magnificent and has a very grand look to it.