Lottie Bids's blog

Mortgage lenders are returning to buy-to-lets amid evidence that rental yields have started to climb above 6%.

James Charles reported in the Sunday Times this week that typical yields have started to climb above 6% as landlords benefit from rising rents and falling or stagnant prices.

Analysis by Find A Property compared regional yields with the most popular types of buy-to-let properties and found that three-bedroom houses in Scotland produced an average gross yield of 6.5% last month, while one-bedroom flats earned a yield of 6% in London and 6.4% in the West Midlands.

However, not

Consumers could face a new round of energy price rises as early as next month, experts are warning.

As the "big six" energy suppliers axe their cheapest deals in the face of soaring wholesale gas prices, domestic fuel prices are expected to rise by 15% this year. This would add £172.50 to the typical household energy bill of £1,150 a year.

Suppliers are blaming earlier than expected price rises on pressure caused by the political crisis in the Middle East and North Africa, the Japenese nuclear catastrophe and surging demand from the booming Chinese and Indian economies.

This year

Grand Designs Live London returns to ExCeL from the 30th April to 8th May and tickets are on sale now - click here to book http://www.granddesignslive.com/. The event is the UK's number one, award-winning home show packed with design and inspiration for your home. Grand Designs Live is perfect for anyone who has an interest in interiors, build, kitchens, bathrooms, gardens, shopping, food, village and technology. The show will provide you with plenty of amazing ideas to turn your dream home into a reality. If you're self-building, renovating or simply re-decorating you’ll find everything

Hello!  This will be my last posting for a few days as off to enjoy some Easter sunshine in the Midlands!

I just wanted to draw your attention to our latest property Hot Picks that are for auction week commencing 2nd May http:// http://www.ukauctionlist.com/hotpicks

They include a fantasic investment opportunity in Brixton, a commercial property in Aberdeenshire, and houses with great potential in both Spalding and Hitchin.

If you're interested in any of the properties in our Hot Picks and would like further information, please give us a ring on 0845 0536906.

Have a lovely Easter!

Are you interested in putting your property in to auction, or just finding our a bit more about how it works?

UK Auction List and are auctioneer partners around the UK can help you put your property on the market. We aim to make the process as simple, straightforward and stress free for you as possible. There are a lots of advantages to putting your property into auction, with obviously speed of sale being the biggest factor - normally completion is within 28 days!

Simply visit our SELLING section http://www.ukauctionlist.com/selling/property-auction-enquiry-form (or click on the Selling

It is the perfect London pied-à-terre for a non-dom tycoon about town. A three-storey penthouse overlooking Hyde Park has been sold for £136m – becoming by far the most expensive flat ever bought in Britain.

An unnamed buyer, using lawyers in Ukraine, has bought two apartments in the newly opened One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge that have been knocked into one to create a 25,000 sq ft (2,300 sq m) penthouse with a wine cellar and access to room service at the neighbouring Mandarin Oriental hotel, according to documents filed last week at the Land Registry.

The price eclipses the

It has been reported this lunchtime that inflation unexpectedly dropped last month, weakening the prospect of an imminent interest rate hike by policymakers at the Bank of England.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation was 4% in March, down from 4.4% in February, but still double the Government's 2% target, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

City analysts had expected the CPI rate to hold at 4.4%.

The ONS said the drop in the cost of living was driven by falling food prices, which slipped 1.4% - the biggest month-on-month drop since between June and July 2007 -

Gordon Ramsay has reportedly moved into an £11.5m ($18.8m) home in LA.

The TV chef, who was rumoured to be permanently relocating to the States, is said to be paying £100,000 ($164,000) a month to rent the mansion in Bel Air.

Ramsay is apparently in negotiations to buy the Mediterranean-style house, which features 12 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a summerhouse and and "jaw-dropping views" over the ocean.

According to the News of the World, he has applied for visas for his family and consulted close friend David Beckham about suitable schools for his four children.

A source said: "His new

Have you checked out this month's Hot Picks?  http://www.ukauctionlist.com/hotpicks

We have a three bedroom house in Teesside, a unique four bedroom bungalow in Durham, and a three bedroom with great potential in Wigan, all in auction next week.  

Also, the office in Aberdeen is going back into auction at the reduced guide price of £105,000 - a drop of over £15,000!

If you're interested in any of them, then please give us a shout.

It was reported today that property worth hundreds of millions of pounds changed hands in the run up to yesterday's stamp duty rise.

Estate agents reported an 'incredibly busy' March as buyers tried to bear the 1% increase in duty to 5% on properties worth more than a £1million. Savills reported striking deals worth £90million on Tuesday as the midnight deadline approached.

And if you were struggling to find a white van man in London this week, that is no surprise as removal companies in the capital were also fully booked, with some sellers even giving away furniture to make it easier