Category: Our homes & developments

  • Repayment or interest only mortgages?


    Essential advice from the Mortgage Advice Bureau at Manning Stainton for first time buyers

    There are two methods to repay your mortgage: ‘repayment’ and ‘interest only’. Which is right for you?

    Repayment mortgages

    With a repayment mortgage your monthly payments to the lender go towards reducing the amount you owe as well as paying off interest they charge. This means that each month you’re paying off a small part of your mortgage.

    Advantages

    It’s a clear approach, you can see your mortgage getting smaller and provided you maintain the required payments, you also have the certainty your mortgage will be repaid at the end of the term.

    Disadvantages

    At the start, most of your payments go towards paying off the interest on your mortgage, which means in the early years, the amount you owe won’t reduce by very much.

    Interest only mortgages

    These are now only offered with very strict criteria and are not available to everyone. With an interest only mortgage you only pay the interest charged, so you’re not actually reducing the loan itself. You’ll need to have a realistic and feasible arrangement in place to repay your loan at the end of the term, for example, investment or savings plan. Most lenders will want to see proof of these.

    Advantages

    If the savings or investment plan you choose performs well, then you could pay off your mortgage earlier compared to a repayment mortgage. At the end of the mortgage term there may be a lump sum available after the mortgage has been repaid.

    Disadvantages

    Very few investments or savings plans are guaranteed to repay your mortgage in full. If your savings or investment plan doesn’t cover the full amount, you’ll be responsible for paying the difference. Your mortgage lender can demand repayment, and they’ll charge you interest on any outstanding balance until it’s repaid.

    Need mortgage advice?

    Contact Jo Murgatroyd at the Mortgage Advice Bureau at Manning Stainton. She’s a whiz at mortgages and has access to over 90 lenders and thousands of mortgage products.

    Reach her by emailing [email protected] or call 0113 252 2290. Alternatively, our Sales Advisors can introduce you!

     

     

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    Skipton Properties

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  • Seven simple steps to securing your new home

    The seven steps to securing your new home when using a mortgage advisor…

    1. Arrange an agreement in principle (AIP)
      • Talk to your mortgage advisor to arrange an agreement in principle. This makes sure you have the best chance of securing your home you make an offer on. It will confirm in writing how much a lender will be prepared to lend to you, subject to a full mortgage application and underwriting. This AIP can then be used to confirm to us your credit worthiness and that you are a serious buyer.
    2. Make a formal offer
      • When you’ve found the property for you, make a formal offer subject to contract and get back in touch with your mortage advisor. Now’s the time to make your formal mortgage application to the lender.
    3. Arrange a valuation
      • Your mortgage lender arranges for a surveyor to carry out a valuation report on your chosen property to ensure it is suitable security for a mortgage. Select a solacer to draw up contracts and carry out local searches (known as conveyancing).
    4. Review your full mortgage offer
      • Once the lender’s assessment of your eligibility has been successfully completed, finances checked and assuming the valuation figure is acceptable, the lender will produce a full mortgage offer which will be sent to both you and your solicitors. This will detail the loan amount, the monthly repayments, details of the mortgage product and terms of the loan. It will also detail any special conditions that need to be met by you and/or your solicitor which may involve arranging quotes and liaising with the vendor/agent fr work required identified by the surveyor.
    5. Arrange local area searches with your solicitor
      • Your solicitor carries out local searches and confirms ownership of the property etc. before drawing up your contract of sale.
    6. Sign your contracts
      • Contracts are then signed by both seller and yourself and the deposit is typically paid to your solicitor and contracts are then exchanged. You have now made a legal commitment to buy the property. You then need to contact your Mortgage Advice Bureau advisor to ensure any insurance cover is put in place. Your solicitor will give you a completion date for your purchaser and you can then start making moving day arrangements.
    7. Move into your new home!
      • Completion day arrives. Arrange to collect the key from your Sales Advisor. It’s time to move into your new home!

    This content was written by The Mortgage Advice Bureau at Manning Stainton..

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    Skipton Properties

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  • A home for first time buyers

    Stamp duty cuts, a greater supply of new homes, interest rate stagnation and buy-to-let investors put off by higher stamp duty costs are all reasons why 2018 is a great time to buy your first home.

    If you’re a first time buyer we recommend you visit The Bridge, Haworth to see what our natural stone, two bedroom Lofthouse home has to offer. Uniquely designed, with it’s double height ceilings and open plan living space, it offers the perfect space for entertaining family and friends.

    The Lofthouse is located at The Bridge, a quiet development in the heart of historic Haworth. Haworth has remained a thriving village and offers purchasers many services on their door step. From beautiful old pubs to charming stores, Haworth has a little bit of everything.

    We’ve designed the Lofthouse to provide purchasers with fuss free living. You won’t have to get the lawnmower out with this home as we’ve created a paved garden area allowing for al fresco dining instead. Walk inside to find an open plan living area which features a stylish galley kitchen. **For the month of March we are offering purchasers the ability to add units to the kitchen, creating extra storage and choose from a range of finishes for their integrated wardrobe to the master bedroom. We’re also including an integrated AEG washer dryer**

    The specification

    The Lofthouse is built out of high quality natural stone sourced in the UK complete with a natural slate roof. Quality slate roofs will not fade or deteriorate, they only get better with time as they add more character to the property. Our homes also feature Veka windows which come with a 10 year guarantee for complete peace of mind. These large windows maximise the amount of natural light entering our homes. Worried about security? Our windows and doors are designed to a Secure by Design standard. Secure by Design is an official police security initiative that helps reduce crime.

    Your kitchen benefits from the latest technology from AEG and soft close doors; create the kitchen of your dreams from our wide collection of styles in a range of colours. In your bathroom you’ll find showers from Hansgrohe and pottery locally manufactured here in Yorkshire. Low energy LED lights are included as standard in your bathrooms and kitchen, a feature many developers add in as an extra!

    Our vision for The Bridge

    The Bridge is a blend of idyllic 2 to 4-bedroom family homes. Later phases of the development include apartment living for the over 55s in the original grade II listed ‘Bridge House Mills’. The development will enjoy beautiful open spaces and tree-lined avenues.

    Buy with only a 5% deposit with Help to Buy

    Many of our purchasers have benefited from the government backed scheme Help to Buy, enabling them to buy their new home with a deposit of only £7747.50. Speak to our Sales Advisor, Pam, to find out how the scheme can benefit you or read our handy guide here.

    View the Lofthouse

    We’re now officially open at The Bridge in Haworth and appointments are not needed. Pop along to the development Thursday – Monday 10am – 5pm.

    We look forward to showing you around. Find out more about the Bridge here.

     

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    Skipton Properties

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  • 2018 Finalist: LABC Awards

    We’re overjoyed to announce that our development, Kearns Village, located in the hamlet of Cowpe in the Rossendale Valley, is a finalist in the category for ‘Best Small Development’ in the North West LABC Building Excellence Awards 2018.

    What is the LABC? 

    The LABC or local authority building control is a not for profit offering impartial advice and support on building regulations and other crucial services for housing developers. They also assist you, as the homeowner, on any structural issues that may arise from years 2 to 10 in your new home. They ensure buildings are safe, healthy and efficient to meet the standards set by the government.

    Every single one of our homes benefits from the LABC Warranty which gives our homeowners complete peace of mind.

    What are the LABC awards?

    The LABC awards celebrate achievement in the building industry. They reward excellent buildings, outstanding companies, partnerships and individuals that go that extra mile. Unlike other awards, the LABC awards doesn’t just award for looks. They consider other vital elements including: high levels of compliance with building regulations, outstanding craftsmanship, technical innovation, sustainability and high performance and use of innovative products and the skills to overcome difficult site conditions to name a few of their criteria.

    Winners of the award will be announced in April. Wish us luck!

    To find out more about the LABC please click here.

     

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    Skipton Properties

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  • The Bridge Launch: Exceptional homes in Haworth

    New home buyers are warmly invited to the launch of our new development, The Bridge at Haworth, from 10am on Saturday, 3rd March.

    Reservations have already been taken on these highly-anticipated, beautiful stone-built family homes on Bridgehouse Lane. This is no surprise: with prices starting from just £154,950, there are homes to suit all needs.

    Caroline Verity, Sales, Marketing & Design Director said: “The Bridge was developed and curated with the local setting firmly in mind. We take great care over the sourcing of stone, with its unique variations and enduring beauty, and each home exemplifies our focus on quality and attention to detail at every stage.

    “We are proud of each and every one of our properties – both inside and out – and believe that anyone would be delighted to call them home.”

    Nestled seamlessly into the natural landscape, The Bridge forms part of our signature collection of Verity & Family Homes – distinctive homes in natural stone from its long-serving, trusted craftsmen. The V&F logo is a mark of quality and means prospective buyers can expect to find timeless elevations, dry stone walls, beautiful landscaping and refined interior specifications.

    The Bridge is a blend of idyllic 2 to 4-bedroom family homes. Later phases of the development include apartment living for the over 55s in the original grade II listed ‘Bridge House Mills’, which enjoys beautiful open spaces and tree-lined avenues.

    Caroline has overseen all interior specifications at The Bridge, where the homes have a contemporary yet timeless appeal. Prospective buyers can expect to find:

    • Exquisite soft-close integrated kitchens
    • Traditional fireplaces (to a selection of homes)
    • Beautiful bathrooms with chrome radiators
    • Integral appliances from the trusted brand, AEG

    As a family business, with strong family values, we have a 30-year history of developing homes which reflect their local contexts and our core values – family, people, excellence, creativity and heart. This ethos underpins everything we do.

    Haworth is one of the country’s most desirable addresses, with its breath-taking views, cobbled lanes and easy access to motorways, mainline rail services and airports. Haworth enjoys a close-knit community and a range of good and outstanding nearby schools.

    Interested buyers can contact the sales office on 01535 288009 or email [email protected]

    We look forward to welcoming you!

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    Skipton Properties

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  • Make your house a home

    At Skipton Properties we like to offer our customers a wide range of on trend products to make their house a home. This month we’ve been updating the selection of tiling you can choose from to complement your kitchen and bathrooms.

    Development Specifications

    A new tile can transform the look of your room. In fact, change the tiling and you can easily update your kitchen without having to go to the expense of changing anything else. That’s why we are always on the look out for new styles. We don’t choose tiles that easily date, so be rest assured what you choose will be timeless. Confused what to go for? We hope some of the suggestions in today’s blog post may inspire you! If you need advice, please don’t hesitate to speak to our Sales Advisors who will always be able to give their opinion on how your choices will look once installed.

    Top tip: When looking for your new home be sure to check your specification, some developers don’t offer tiling as standard to kitchens and limit what tiling you receive in your bathrooms. At Skipton Properties we always try to go one step further. Tiled splash backs are almost always offered in our kitchens, whether you’re looking for a two bedroom home or a larger four bedrooms detached. Whilst we’re talking about our specification, we may as well let you know that we also offer down lights as standard across the vast majority of our homes in kitchen and bathrooms. We challenge you to find a more inclusive specification. If you do, please let us know, we’d love to know how we could improve.

    Skipton Properties Luxury Developments in Yorkshire & Lancashire

    The tiling you see here will be coming soon to a development near you. Call in to one of our developments in Yorkshire and Lancashire to find out more.

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    Skipton Properties

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  • More choice in your kitchen

    We understand that the kitchen is considered by many as the most important room in the house. Functionality is essential, but more and more we are using them as a social space and thus good looks have never been as important.

    We want to be able to offer you the latest kitchen designs which is why we’re delighted to announce that you’ll have a wider selection to choose from later this month. What’s in store? You’ll find a new bright white shaker door in the collection, as well as a range of new handles. Pair the new white shaker door with copper handles to achieve the style pictured. You of course don’t have to go for the yellow accent wall 😉

    Prefer a neutral  look? You can now also choose black bar handles. Why not try these with grey doors to achieve a striking look.

    Need inspiration? Browse through our latest style guide in our marketing suites.

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    Skipton Properties

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  • New home styles at The Bridge

     

    Visit the Bridge, our latest development in the picturesque village of Haworth, West Yorkshire and you’ll see things are starting to take shape. We’ve made progress reforming the archway to the grade II listed former Bridge House Mills and as we start to build further into the development you can start to see our vision come alive.

    This progress has meant we are able to release more homes. If you’re interested in three-storey living and a garage is a must look no further than our Holt and Elliot home styles. They benefit from an integrated garage to the ground floor and laundry room, meaning you can keep the mess downstairs. We’ve always found that this sort of living suits our homeowners. Fears of always running up and down the stairs across many floors are thrown out the window when you’re living space is all on one floor. The ground floor becomes a space to throw off your shoes, a place for your wellies and bits and bobs, whilst keeping your living area pristine.

    Both homes offer plenty of space in the master bedroom for integrated wardrobes, if you’d like to upgrade your specification, and both benefit from en-suites. If you have young children this home works well, as all the bedrooms are within easy reach on the same floor.

    We’ve been operating an appointment only policy at The Bridge so that we can give each and every one of you our undivided attention prior to our launch. If you’d like to book an appointment to view you can do so by emailing us at [email protected] or by calling 01535 288009. We are open Thursday – Monday 10am – 5pm.

    We look forward to seeing you!

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    Skipton Properties

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  • The Evolution Collection: Explained

    The Evolution Collection is a collection of two bedroom apartments and two bedroom homes at Elsey Croft in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Hear the word discounted and it might seem like a lot of paperwork and hoops to jump through but in reality it’s not much different to purchasing any home from us. In today’s article we hope to explain the scheme to you so that you can benefit.

    What is the Evolution Collection?

    It is a collection of homes we are building in partnership with Craven District Council to offer homes for hard working people in Skipton. It features a range of two bedroom apartments and one end terraced two bedroom home, all at a reduced market rate. Our two bedroom house has now been reserved, but we have six apartments available, which will be ready to view mid-March.

    How does it work?

    We price each home at a significant discount. This price is agreed with Craven District Council so that it fits their affordable homes criteria. It is not a shared ownership scheme; you own 100% of your home and there is no rent to pay. The only difference with these homes to a market property is that when you come to sell, a sum equivalent to the same percentage discount you obtained when you first bought the property will be factored into your sale going forward.

    What happens when you sell?

    Before you market your home you will need to first agree with Craven District Council a minimum selling price (Don’t worry they won’t be tricky about this, they just want to know you won’t sell your home for less than it is worth!). Once marketed and a purchaser found, on completion  you will need to pay Craven District Council a sum equivalent to the percentage discount you received. This percentage will be determined at the time you buy your property from us.

    An example:

    You bought the two bedroom discounted house at the listed price of £125,000. The valuation at the time of purchase was £220,000. This gives a percentage discount of 43%.  You have an interested purchaser who has agreed to buy your home for £235,000. This would mean that you would pay the council £101,050 and make £8,950 in capital growth.

    Do you still benefit from capital growth?

    Yes you do. If the sale price rises above the original valuation when you bought the property, you will reap the rewards.  The indicative calculations above show how this potentially could work.

    What mortgages are available to you?

    We are working with the independent mortgage advisory, The Mortgage Advice Bureau, to help you get the best mortgage for these homes. In order to access the wide range of products from various banks you will need to apply for your mortgage through this route. The Mortgage Advice Bureau will also assess your suitability for the scheme with the council.

    How do you qualify?

    There are a few criteria that we must satisfy in order to sell you a discounted home at Elsey Croft, Skipton. Firstly, you must be able to show you have a local connection, either by family ties or work. Secondly, you must not earn more or have savings more than £60,000. Thirdly, it must be your primary residence and you must be a first time buyer. Lastly you need to show why you need a property of this size and show that you wouldn’t be able to afford a property of this size at the full market rate.

    Interested? 

    We have just six two bedroom apartments and one two bedroom home available. View more details here.

    Like to speak to us? Contact Pam on 01756 630517 or by emailing [email protected]. If you’d like to arrange a chat in person you can make appointments Thursday – Monday 10am – 5pm.

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    Skipton Properties

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  • The wait is over: The Green

    The wait is over. We’ve released our first selection of two and three bedroom, natural stone homes at The Green in Glusburn. Our first homes will form part of the development that is accessed via Black Abbey Lane in the heart of the village. We’re on site now and begin the build, following preparation works, next month. Our first homeowners will be able to move in from June onwards.

    What to expect? The Green forms a part of our Verity and Family Homes Collection. The V&F Homes Collection is part of a new brand of homes from Skipton Properties. Wherever you see the logo you can expect our signature style of homes which will always include beautiful, dry stone walls, natural stone elevations, stone detailing such as corbels or mullions and a refined interior specification featuring well known, trusted brands such as AEG and Hansgrohe. With Verity & Family Homes it’s our goal to create homes that instantly complement the location in which we build.

    An unusual feature of our two and three bedroom homes at The Green is the traditional log burning stoves. Fires have been added to create a traditional street scene. Have your heart set on one if these? Choose an end terrace or semi-detached home to benefit.

    Off plan reservations can be made now. How do you reserve off plan? Get in touch with our Sales Advisor Joanne at Spring. Mills, Fence by calling 01282 506860 or by emailing [email protected]. Appointments can be made to discuss your new home Thursday – Monday 11am – 5pm. We do not have a Show Home at this stage, however appointments can be organised at our Head Office in Cross Hills.

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    Skipton Properties

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