ASK442: How do I use the 18 year cycle when remortgaging? Is now the time to buy my freehold?
Aug 20, 2024
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Phillip seeks insights into how the 18-year property cycle should shape his mortgage and portfolio strategy. The hosts explain the significance of personal circumstances over cyclical predictions. Meanwhile, James is intrigued by the plummeting price of his leasehold from £185K to £30K. They discuss potential legal changes affecting ground rent and explore why his landlord might be eager to sell. Tune in for expert advice on navigating these property dilemmas!
Personal financial circumstances should guide mortgage decisions rather than solely relying on the 18-year property cycle predictions.
Significant discounts for leaseholds are driven by legal concerns affecting ground rent values, encouraging freeholders to sell quickly before potential losses.
Deep dives
Mortgage Strategy and the Property Cycle
The discussion emphasizes that personal financial circumstances should guide mortgage choices rather than predictions based on market cycles, specifically the 18-year property cycle. The advice points out that the current mortgage market favors five-year fixed rates due to lower fees compared to two-year options, which have higher costs despite lower initial rates. Potential buyers are encouraged to focus on available mortgage products that suit their situations rather than attempting to time the market. It's explained that a downturn in property prices typically follows a boom, and refinancing during a market correction should be manageable as property values generally recover over time.
Trends in Leasehold Property Sales
The episode addresses the rising trend of freeholders offering significant discounts to sell leasehold interests, highlighting a case where the price dropped from £185,000 to £30,000 within a year. This price reduction is attributed to institutional investors’ concerns about upcoming legal changes that could diminish the value of ground rents, prompting freeholders to offload their assets before they potentially become worthless. The right of first refusal law also plays a critical role, allowing leaseholders the first opportunity to buy the freehold, which could indicate that landlords seek quick sales or have other buyers lined up. The hosts advise leaseholders to weigh the situation carefully and suggest that future law changes may offer better opportunities for purchasing leaseholds.
Ready for this week’s Ask Rob & Rob? We’ve got two new listener questions lined up…
(0:45) How do you use the UK’s position in the 18-year property cycle to influence your decision making with your mortgage and portfolio strategy? That’s exactly what Phillip wants to know, so he turns to Rob & Rob for their expert advice. What will they say?
(4:05) Last year, James had the chance to buy the leasehold on his property for £185K, but now the price has dropped to just £30K! He’s curious if this drastic reduction is due to potential legal changes affecting ground rent, or if there's another reason his landlord might be eager to sell.
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