The largest consumer property census has confirmed that British buyers and sellers have long term confidence in the market With over 32,000 responses on the Rightmove website, the consumer property study has surveyed sentiment in the property market from buyers, landlords, investors, tenants and sellers. * Search for premium property online The findings reflect what the company calls 'the general public's long-term optimism and confidence in property.' It found that only 6% of existing landlords are looking to sell their properties, and what's more 58% intend to buy more properties, while buy-to-let investors are confident that their properties will gain in value over time. Firs-time buyers also seem buoyant and the survey found that 22% of first-time buyers are aged over 35, and over half are between 25 and 34, whilst a small figure - 1% - were over 55. The respondents said they think it's hugely important to market your property online, and 83% of all buyers responding to the census found the internet more useful than traditional property newspapers for finding their new home. 'Over the last few years, the use of the internet has become more accessible and more widespread; not only within the home but on mobile phones and various other channels,' said Miles Shipside at Rightmove. 'Researching the local property market has become a national obsession and form of entertainment. As well as potential buyers seeing what they can buy with their budget, homeowners like to see what similar properties to theirs are selling for. The internet has revolutionised the homebuying process dramatically as everyone now knows that they can easily view thousands of property details from a range of agents, with maps and additional images in seconds.' * Search for premium property online
-
'Just look at those stairs. Just as an art form, they are bewitching, like the shell of a nautilus': The lure of buying a stairway to heavenIt seems like madness to buy a house purely because you fall in love with the staircase — but sometimes, they are simply so beautiful that it's impossible to resist. Toby Keel takes a look at some glorious examples of staircases we've seen in Country Life in the last couple of years.
-
'I found myself in a magical world of a sun-dappled forest, speckled with wild flowers of kaleidoscopic colours and brilliant mosses': Solo walking in the PyreneesThe Pyrenees reserves its best treasures for walkers prepared to venture off the well-beaten trail, says Teresa Levonian Cole, on a solo holiday in Ribes de Freser.
