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Posts Tagged ‘new houses’

Living the Good Life: the English Golden Triangle

February 16th, 2011 Arthur Sperks Comments off

If you have an academic personality, locations in England exist that are a great choice for such a mind and nature. The name for these places is the Golden Triangle, which has points in Oxford, London and Cambridge. All three of these places are of appeal if taken on their own terms, and attract every type of buyer of new houses, from budding retirees to first time buyers. Just keep reading to find out more about what the Golden Triangle has to offer you if you are interested in a lifestyle change.

Cambridge
You surely couldn’t wish for more from a place to live than the quirky bookshops, numerous coffee shops and cobbled streets that Cambridge has to offer. Cambridge has historical and classic architecture that elevates it well above those places that merely boast the usual shops, supermarkets and amenities. You could spend a lazy day in the summer just lying out on the grass, by virtue of the extensive green space that the city offers, or alternatively, you could take advantage of Cambridge’s famous punt boats for a trip on the water. Those who are interested in moving here may want to purchase a bicycle, however, as two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled transport makes up such a large proportion of the city centre traffic.
Golden triangle point: University of Cambridge

Oxford
Cambridge residents may have the River Cam to enjoy, but in Oxford you have access to both the River Cherwell and what is often referred to as the Isis, but which is otherwise known as the Thames. Oxford is also the proud home of the UK’s top ranked university, so the area has lots of intellectual types with whom you can share your passion for life’s more academic aspects. You can also find the Blackwell Bookshop in Oxford, which has a quantity of books for sale that you may just be rendered speechless by.
Golden triangle point: University of Oxford

London
If you are interested in setting up home in London, then you will probably already be aware of the various entertainment venues, retail services and tourist attractions that you can enjoy there. Less well-known, however, is the capital’s more academic side. You can find historical items, art work and industrial and transportation developments in the capital’s countless museums. London will shortly be hosting sporting legends in the 2012 Summer Olympics, while the Houses of Parliament and the City of London offer plenty in the way of economics and politics.
Golden triangle point: University of London, and Imperial College London

Arthur Sperks has extensive knowledge in homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly new houses. he often provides guest posts throughout the internet on these topics.

Five Design Tips for Apartments and Smaller Spaces

February 1st, 2011 Arthur Sperks Comments off

There is often notoriously little space in an apartment or even one of the smaller new houses on the market, particularly if they are situated in a city centre. If you have purchased an apartment that requires decoration, experiment with these useful tips to help you use your space as effectively as possible and create a truly stunning looking new home.

Use of colour
You can give your apartment a brighter appearance, or fool your eyes to make some rooms look larger than they actually are, simply with the intelligent use of colour. You can make a room look larger with the use of white, beige or another neutral shade, while you can make it look more interesting with the occasional bold splash of colour. It is possible to introduce more depth to a room by trying darker accent walls, so don’t be timid – just experiment!

Use of lines and curves
Apartments can sometimes seem very box-like and linear when you first move in. You could soften up the room available by introducing curves or curvy furniture. Experiment with a spiralling or circular styled rug to mix the design up.

Accessorise
You can help to keep your apartment interesting by adding accessories, particularly if white and neutral colours are dominant. A gorgeous picture or piece of bold fabric could be just the accessory to give your apartment’s rooms that all-important focal point.

Clever use of storage
You will need to ensure that every furniture item you introduce to your new apartment has a function if you have very limited space. You should ask, for example, whether decorative items could also act as storage. You can use hangers, drawers, racks and boxes shrewdly to make the most of your home’s every centimetre. Items of contemporary Perspex or glass furniture, such as chairs or side tables, are also worth a try to make the space work to your benefit.

Mirrors
A great way of decorating your new department is to use mirrors to make it look as if you have more space and light. The best ways of using mirrors include placing them opposite mirrored furniture for twice the effect, placing them at right angles to natural sources of light to maximise the daylight, and drawing attention to a focal point such as a decorative light shade with them.

Big style is a big help to small spaces, so don’t be shy – try out different design elements and make them work to your benefit.

Arthur Sperks is obsessed with homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly new houses. He writes frequently on these subjects and enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet.

Accommodation Choice at University

January 22nd, 2011 Arthur Sperks Comments off

Once you have passed your A-levels, your attention may turn to choosing the right University. There are many decisions that you will need to make at this stage of your life, and one of the most important is whether to attend a local university or to move further away from home to study. This article addresses the question of which choice you should make and how best to make it.

Making the right choice
The decision of which university to attend is not one that should be rushed into. Your school or college will often be the source of the best advice, so it makes plenty of sense to get in touch with them during the summer months if you feel unsure about your choices. Moving away from home is the most appealing option for many students as it allows them to enjoy a lifestyle free of their parents. You should have a lot of fun in your time at university and activities such as making new friends should be an enjoyable part of the general university student lifestyle. It is important to seize every opportunity to get involved in activities such as socialising, clubs and sport.

You should also consider the many reasons to attend a university that is close to where you live. For one thing, it will allow you to avoid the often immense debt that can occur as a result of taking out student loans for accommodation. Another opportunity that presents itself if you decide to study from home is that of buying your first property. It is easier now than it has ever been to buy a new home, due to various initiatives such as the Head Start Scheme.

Buying a New Home
The aim of the Head Start Scheme is to help people onto the first rung of the property ladder. When buying with property developers Barratt Homes, homebuyers only have to have a five per cent deposit, and an 8 per cent mortgage. The remaining 15 per cent is paid back, interest free, after 10 years or when the property is sold – whichever comes sooner. This means lower monthly repayments which is easier on the pocket! Getting a new house suddenly seems a lot easier.

Arthur Sperks is has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly passionate about new houses, he writes frequently on these subjects and enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet.

Benefits Of Buying A New Home

September 18th, 2010 Robin Carpenter Comments off

One of the most important and one of the most difficult choices a person can make is between renting and buying a house. This decision can be easier to make if you take a look at what stage of your life that you are in. Renters have a big flexibility, they can move whenever the need is, and they are not stuck with a mortgage before the house is sold.

The main thought when you consider buying a home is you will be eligible for many economic benefits from your investment. Homeowners benefit from many tax incentives, such as property tax along with mortgage interest deductions. If you are going to be a first time homeowner you need to take notice that taxes are in fact fully deductible.

Homeowners that have lived in their home for two out of five years, there will be a capital gain exclusion law that will let them deduct up to $500, 000 of the earnings from capital gains. This is a great bonus because it means lower tax for homeowners.

Over years real estate always gains, this is not like a car or a boat, the home value will always increase. Except for some dips in the market. This should be a factor that is considered when pondering the benefits of buying a new home.

Think about your monthly payments on your home as rent. This makes it easier to pay off your home. Every cent that you put against your mortgage, it increases the equity on your home.

When you buy your new home it is yours, you have the advantage of painting wherever you want, and you can remodel any way you like. Another key bonus is no more landlords.

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Your Perfect Home

August 29th, 2010 Arthur Sperks Comments off

We all dream of winning the lottery and owning the perfect home, but what constitutes the perfect home? Five bedrooms, a double garage and a private swimming pool? For many people simply having a little extra space and a nice garden is what having the perfect home is all about. Due to the current economic climate, the property market is inundated with new houses for sale at competitive prices.

Homes for sale

The internet is the best place to start your search for homes for sale. We tend to use the World Wide Web (WWW) to search for a variety of products and services. These include comparing car insurance to utility suppliers, the Internet saves us valuable money and time.

New Houses

Looking for a blank canvas? Something you can individually decorate to your own taste? If you answered “yes” to these questions you should start your search for new houses online. More energy efficient and requiring less maintenance, new houses are perfect for couples and families.

As well as the benefits mentioned above, you can generally find new homes for sale in a variety of styles on a development. Not only will you have a choice of different property styles unlike older properties which were all built around the same time and have identical layouts, new homes also enable you to choose fixtures and fittings if bought at the start of the development phase.

You also get the added benefit of a new house coming with a 10 year NHBC Buildmark Warranty which means that it is covered against extensive damage from structural or drainage defects. After this period, it is covered for a further 8 years against the same defects.

Homes for sale in this climate

Recently, property prices have experienced a significant decrease which has created a buyer’s market. If you have been thinking about purchasing a property or moving home, you will have a number of fantastic options at this moment in time. You will also get more for your money!

Arthur Sperks is obsessed with homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly new houses. He writes frequently on these subjects and enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet.

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