Blogs

Latest Posts from Sara Morton Real Estates

BUDGET KEY TAKEAWAYS

BUDGET KEY TAKEAWAYS   Your First Home could boost demand for new-builds, with the government expecting the £4.7bn scheme to support around 70,000 first-time buyers and 20,000 new homes, while Zoopla estimates that up to 30,000 buyers a year could benefit if local price caps are set at the right levels.   A new First Time Buyer ISA will launch in 2029, offering a 25% government bonus on savings used to buy a qualifying first home worth up to £450,000.   Landlords face a further increase in property income tax, with rates rising by another two percentage points from April

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Property Market Insight

UK house prices flatlined or dropped slightly in September, while fixed mortgage costs surged back to three-year highs. High borrowing costs and economic anxiety ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget have driven buyer caution, wiping out the temporary momentum seen earlier in the summer. The latest data from major lenders highlights a stark cooling of the property market:   Lloyds HPI (Halifax Tracker): Reported that average house prices were entirely flat (0.0%) on both a monthly and annual basis in September, leaving the typical home valued at £298,441. Nationwide Index: Indicated an actual monthly decline of 0.2%. Annual house price

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WHAT A WEEK!

  WHAT A WEEK!   I was delighted to be featured in the Richmond Magazine, to celebrate Women’s Day and entrepreneurial women in the Richmond and Surrey Magazines.    We believe that it is essential that our clients have a full overview of market conditions before deciding to sell or let their property. This can only be achieved with knowledge, experience, and honesty, with an advisory, bespoke approach to each client’s requirements.    SO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WEEK 9   More homes on the market. Solid demand.    Nine weeks in, and the property market is not whispering anymore.  

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Celebrating 25 Years of Estate Agency

    ‘THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE IS EXPERIENCE’   What has modelling, Metropolitan Police Service and fashion retail got in common with selling a house?   The answer is they all helped me fine tune my skills as an estate agent.   My first experience of buying a property was when I bought my first property in Kew, Richmond. Thankfully it was with a very experienced estate agent friend. Little did I know where this would lead?   Since January 2000 I have been learning and assisting clients in a multitude of scenarios amounting to millions of pounds worth of

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Spinning Plates, Friendly Neighbours & Winning Gold!

  I’ve been fairly quiet these past few weeks as the market has been moving rapidly, and it’s been all hands on deck, ensuring that I keep all the plates spinning to achieve a seamless and timely completion for every client.   On top of this, our brand new BNI chapter has expanded and experienced great success already. As you can imagine, that has been keeping me pretty occupied, too.   We launched our new chapter, named ‘The Park’, at the end of May 2024 with just three members, myself included. Today, I am a very proud President of ‘The

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Try This Top Tip For Productivity!

  Years ago, I read a book written by Mr Gary Keller, the main man from the global real estate franchise Keller Williams.   The book had been highly recommended to me from (unsurprisingly) people within Keller Williams UK. But I’m so glad that I read it because it has been incredibly useful in improving my focus and productivity.   The book is titled The One Thing. And, as you have probably guessed, it is all about finding and focussing on YOUR One Thing.   It isn’t just a method, it’s a mindset. And it’s one that I return to

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She’s A Star

  This year National Dog Day falls on the same day as Bank Holiday Monday, which is a fantastic opportunity to really enjoy making a fuss of all of our beloved furry friends!   I couldn’t let this national day pass by without celebrating our beautiful family dog, Rosa. Let’s take the opportunity to recognise the number of ways our pups enrich our lives and show our thanks to them for all of their unconditional love. Share photos of your fluffy friends on social media, buy that new adorable doggy dickie bow or take them out on their favourite walk

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Got GUTS? Reading Up On Resilience

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” — Nelson Mandela   As a business owner and a parent, life often feels like a juggling act. I’m sure many of you can relate.   Daily life is a cacophony of work, the kids’ activities and homework, ensuring Rosa has had plenty of exercise and fresh air and making sure I have found the time for my own wellbeing – eating properly, exercise and sufficient rest.   To make the day sound more like a symphony than a

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Teen Spirit

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”  – E. E. Cummings     Seeing my boys reach adolescence has brought me a whole new appreciation and understanding. Their generation is experiencing a completely different world from when I was their age, and I feel compelled to support, protect, encourage and enable them wherever I can.   Parenting is the hardest but most important and most rewarding role. Any parent will tell you that.   But seeing them step into adolescence has brought a fresh set of lessons to learn – for them and for me.   Understanding

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How Does A House Sell Off-Market?

  In the UK, an off-market sale refers to a property transaction that occurs without the property being publicly listed or advertised for sale. If you’d prefer to sell your market privately, this is a great option for you. Or perhaps you’re simply keen to sell quickly without having to factor in time to create marketing material.   If this is the right step for you and your property, then you’ll need to engage an agent with a network of potential buyers and investors in which a suitable buyer (or selection of buyers) can be contacted regarding the purchase.  

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