Paragon Mortgages recorded a 58.4% year-on-year increase in buy-to-let lending in the first quarter of its financial year beginning October 2014 as lending volumes rose from £140.2m to £222.1m.

Its operating profits increased 14.9% in the first quarter last year, rising from £26.9m to £30.9m for the quarter to 31 December 2014.

According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders' figures released in December, buy-to-let figures in October enjoyed a year-on-year increase in loans of 22% and value of 29%, with lending of £2.7bn and 19,600 loan transactions.

John Heron, managing director of Paragon

Agents Property Auction has been in the limelight again after securing the sale of a luxury 25-bedroom Northumberland Hotel.

Otterburn Hall Hotel, which closed suddenly three years ago, was sold at auction for £300,000, at the Agents Property Auction’s latest event on Monday, at the Marriott Hotel, Gosforth..

In the auction catalogue, the description of the hall read: “A rare and unusual opportunity to purchase a magnificent 25 bedroomed, Grade II listed hotel, within the Otterburn Hall Estate on the edge of the village of Otterburn and surrounded by the magnificent countryside of

A couple who converted a pig barn into their dream home have been forced to rip it apart after they failed to apply for planning permission.

Heath Acre Barn, located down a track in Chedgrave, near Loddon, will now go under the hammer at a guide price of £20,000 to £40,000, although prospective buyers have been warned it cannot be used for residential purposes.

The couple, who did not wish to be named, moved into the barn in 2008 but did not apply for planning permission to turn it into a home.

After the Broads Authority became aware of the situation, they asked the couple to remove the

The latest data released by Balgores Property Group has shown that average house prices in Essex gained an impressive 14% over the course of last year, ahead of the national average house price growth of 12.5% reported by ONS.

The last 12 months have seen house prices rise steadily across England with prices in Basildon seeing one of the the highest increases at 20% year-on-year growth. Chelmsford was up by 19%; Upminster gained 16%; Romford 13%; Hornchurch by 9% and average properties in Brentwood grew by 8%. 

The average house price in Essex stood at £312,067 in 2014, well above the above

Inertia has hit the UK housing market as sellers await the outcome of the general election and stricter mortgage regulation suppresses buyer demand, according to property website Rightmove.

The number of homes registered for sale per estate agent fell to its lowest level for five years in December, with available stock 10pc lower than in the same month a year earlier.

At the beginning of 2014 each agent had 63 properties on its books, which climbed to 72 in July, before plummeting to 57 in the last month of the year.

While the lack of new listings pushed asking prices up 1.4pc from November to

New year, new start? Thinking about selling up and want to know how much your property might be worth at auction, then why not send us a few details and one of our auctioneers will give you a ring, to chat further about your requirements.

Our auctioneers can answer all your questions, advise how the auction process works, confirm the fees, and arrange a free valuation of your property to see whether the possibility of selling via auction, is right for you. If you are happy to progress, then they will provide you with a contract for auction and advise on everything that you need to know in

The boost to Scottish house prices that was felt after the referendum has worn off as values North of the boarder slip in November.

Dr Peter Williams, housing market specialist and Chairman of Acadata, comments:

"In November, the average house price in Scotland fell by £191, or -0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis, finishing the month at an average of £164,607. Following on from the more upbeat rise of 0.7% in October, the November figures are perhaps somewhat disappointing, but possibly reflect a more balanced view of the housing market post-referendum. For example, one of the statistics we

A leading analyst has signalled the end of a year of bumper profits for housebuilders and estate agents by downgrading the entire residential property sector.

A new note from stock broker Jefferies has forecast a weak year ahead for the sector, wiping out the buy recommendations it previously held, and warning that London and the South East could experience house price falls.

Publication of the research note sent share prices across the sector falling.

“Negative newsflow on UK mortgage approvals, UK housing transactions, weak house-price data and lower UK GDP growth will lead to share price

Charles Darrow has announced the forthcoming sale by auction of one of Torbay’s largest private investment property portfolios, with an estimated combined value of around £6 million.

The high yielding portfolio, comprising a mix of residential, commercial and HMO properties, is for sale either as a whole,  in part, or as individual lots with guide prices starting from £125,000. A large potential development site in Torquay is also included among the lots.

The Auction will take place on March 3rd 2015 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane, in association with Network Auctions. Bids

After their last auction of 2014 held on 17th December, London property auction house Brendons Auctioneers, have reported impressive growth for 2014 when compared to 2013. With lots offered, lots sold and amount raised all significantly up on 2013, the figures show that the demand for residential investment and commercial property, as well as land, remains strong.

Brendons can report that lots offered were up 44% lots sold increased by 43% and the amount raised at auction was up a huge 99%.

Phil Arnold, Director, commented: “Our business has seen significant growth in the last 12 months and