Is now a good time to move home?
The Coronavirus pandemic has affected many areas of our lives and forced us to put the majority of our plans on hold over the last year. However, many people are still making the decision to move.
In March, the Chancellor gave housebuyers a welcome boost with a temporary Stamp Duty holiday on all properties priced at £500,000 or less in England. The Scottish Government also raised the threshold for paying Land and Building Transaction Tax (LBTT) to £250,000.
In November, the number of houses sold was 13% higher than in 2019 and the number of mortgage approvals were the highest in almost 14 years*.
Here at Cala, we’ve heard many different reasons why people have been choosing to move during the pandemic; from couples bringing forward plans to move in together, to families looking for flexible living space to accommodate home working. We’ve also seen a growing trend for people moving out of city centres and into locations with green open space on their doorstep.
Am I allowed to move home in lockdown?
At the time of writing, the Government guidance states that you are free to buy, sell and move home during lockdown, while taking the necessary precautions to keep yourselves and others safe. The full up-to-date guidance can be found here.
At Cala, our developments remain open by appointment only so that we can ensure that only one household is in our sales offices at any one time.
Can I house hunt from the comfort of my own home?
At Cala, we’ve added extra virtual tours to our website and to our listings on sites such as Rightmove. We are also offering virtual appointments, including video conferences and phone home tours and, if you decide to buy a Cala home, we can take your reservation remotely too.
Can I still visit sites and view showhomes?
Cala’s developments are open by appointment only. Visitors will view our showhomes on their own, although our sales consultants will be on hand before and after, to answer any questions you may have.
We have also introduced measures to keep our customers and visitors safe including social distancing, increased cleaning and protective screens around sales desks.
When it is time to move into your new home, you handover will take place with social distancing measures in place and, of course, you’ll be moving into a sparkling new home with no previous owners!
Can I still take advantage of the Stamp Duty or LBTT holidays?
Both the changes to Stamp Duty and LBTT are due to come to an end on 30th June. On selected Cala developments there are still opportunities to purchase a Ready for You home which means you could move in as little as four weeks and take advantage of the savings on offer, particularly if you use our Part Exchange service.
Beyond March, Cala has a range of incentives that can help bring down the cost or help smooth the way for your move.
Why not find out more about Cala developments in your region? After all, once lockdown is lifted and all our lives return to some semblance of normality, what better place to be than in your dream home?
* Savills UK Housing Market Update January 2021
