It’s a most interesting thing to listen to how various people have bought and sold properties over the years.  Last week I was out to dinner with some chums who have bought and sold houses in France – they’re always full of how much simpler the process is over there.  To give an example, they […]

We are lucky here in the UK.  We have a fair legal system and when you buy a property, you generally get helpful advice from the conveyancing solicitor before you put pen to paper.   The legalities of ownership are wide ranging and it is critical to know where your boundaries are; which are your fences […]

I was out in New York a few years ago.  A relative and I were travelling to and from Houston and found ourselves passing through New York.   We decided to take out one of the best known tourist attactions as we only had two days and wanted to see everything.  So we bought bus tickets […]

Where I live there is an ongoing housing and commercial development of some magniude.  There had been some very old gravel pits on the outskirts of town.  In the 1950s the private owner had the foresight to develop his gravel pits to allow water skiin to take place and the national championships took place there […]

One of the major things about reaching to ‘the age of majority’ was being given the key of the door – usually shown as a yale style, although most young adults would have happily grabbed the back door key also.  There is no such excitement about reaching this very important stage in life now – […]

It’s only when you start getting involved with the historic side of heritage houses that you really appreciate the great architects of the day.  I have connections with one such place not far from my home.  I live in an area very rich with family owned historic properties – several are owned by the same […]

I know of a couple who love living in their very unusual property – it’s a real treasure house of characterful features from the architraves, the cornices in each room.  The outside is just as beguiling, with fancy carved gables over each window casement.  It is in most respects the nearest thing to a Hansel […]

The very first house I was able to buy into will be 130 years old this year – it is wonderful to think that for just a couple of years I formed part of the rich history of one little property in the county town.  It was nothing too grand at the time though – […]

It’s been a most fascinating few weeks for me as an interested observer in the house moving escapades of a close young relative.  It all started off quite smoothly – their small starter home was viewed by an agent who announced he had ‘hundreds’ of first time buyers all screaming for their type of house.  […]

I have young relatives who are trying to change up in property – they sold their very smart starter home within 2 hours of the agent ‘opening’ the sales desk, and were delighted that three couples wanted to view immediately.  They already had their eye on ‘the one’ and were very keen to secure it.  […]