New Year, New Home, New Start, With Holdens Law, Your Local Property Solicitor

There are lots of good reasons to make your move right now, giving you a new start for the new year in a new home. Holdens Law, your local property solicitors are here to help by making your property purchase as smooth and straightforward as possible.

It makes sense to move now

Starting the new year with a new home is always exciting, and this year there are lots of additional reasons for moving home in the first quarter:

• A buoyant property market

The latest report from market experts Rightmove says that the start of 2025 offers more choice of properties than ever, with a record number of new sellers coming to market. They estimate that there are 11% more homes on the market now than the same time last year.

• Affordable prices

Property prices are attractive too, with values currently down 9% from their peak in May 2024. However, prices are starting to recover, with a 1.7% rise in the last month, so you need to act fast.

• A great time to sell

If you have a home to sell, the start of the year is a great time to do it. Rightmove says that ‘buyers in January are often more serious and committed to the homebuying process,’ with home taking on average five days fewer to sell than they do in the peak summer sales season.

• Interest rates are heading down

The Bank of England started to cut interest rates last year, and a further cut is expected in February with up to four interest rate cuts in total planned for 2025. With lower rates come cheaper mortgages, giving you even more choice for your new home.

• Stamp duty goes up in April

From April 1st Stamp Duty Land Tax rates will change, especially for first time buyers and people buying second homes. The nil rate threshold will drop from £250,000 to £125,000 for most buyers, and from £425,000 to £300,000 for first time buyers. Second home buyers will also see Stamp Duty rise from 5% to 7% on values between £125,000 and £250,000.

• A limited window of opportunity

As a result of the impending Stamp Duty rises, major property company Savills say the market will remain strong until March, as people try to beat the deadline. However, you may struggle to sell your old home after that as the markets adjust to the higher taxes.

Why choose local property solicitors?

Clearly time is of the essence if you want to take advantage of the positive property market at the start of 2025, so it makes sense to choose a local property solicitor that you can trust. By using local property solicitors, rather than a remote, online conveyancing company, you get the benefit of local knowledge from an experienced team. 

Choose Holdens Law as your local property solicitors and you are guaranteed a level of personal service and regular communication that online conveyancing simply cannot match. You choose how you deal with us, either face-to-face, by telephone or by email, with an approachable, professional team always on hand to keep your move moving.

Of course, you don’t have to be buying locally to use a local property solicitor. Holdens Law can act on properties nationwide, or even overseas, with the same care and attention as properties in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Buying or selling, Holdens Law are here for you

“We are starting 2025 with one of the most exciting first quarter property markets for years,” explains Jemma Higson from the Holdens Law conveyancing team. “Whether you’re starting the new year planning your first home, or you’re both buying and selling to get to your dream home, the friendly, efficient and cost-effective team at Holdens Law can help you make it happen swiftly, smoothly and simply.” 

To find out more about conveyancing services from Holdens Law, your local property solicitors, get in touch with our team today.