Looking back on a successful 2016, and looking forward to a wonderful 2017

For many people across the UK and beyond, 2016 will be remembered for the year that brought us Brexit, Trump and a great deal of economic uncertainty, but it has proved to be a very successful time for us in the real estate industry. Here at James Neave, we have enjoyed an excellent year, and we look forward to 2017 with a great deal of confidence.

While there are a number of reasons for our optimism, one of the most obvious is the continuing low interest rates in the United Kingdom. When the cost of borrowing remains low, the housing market becomes increasingly buoyant, and this development has enabled us to help clients to sell and lease a comprehensive range of properties throughout the year.

Of course, there is more to our optimism than just the interest rates. We are very conscious of the fact that we cover an extremely attractive area of the UK, one that has become highly sought after by people from across the south-east of England. Our little corner of Surrey is rightly regarded as one of the finest in the region, and it offers a tempting cross-section of properties to both buyers and renters.

A large and diverse portfolio of properties

In some areas, estate agents will only have a somewhat limited selection of properties to work with, but here in Walton-on-Thames we are fortunate enough to have an extensive choice of both new and old apartments, flats, cottages and houses to offer our customer base. Single people, young couples, large families and retirees will always have a wide range of options to choose from here.

Experts predict that house prices will increase during 2017, although this increase will be slower in some areas than others. It’s also thought there will be fewer new builds due to continuing uncertainty about the Brexit situation. If there are any significant rises at all in the next 12 months, they are likely to be in regard to the cost of renting flats and houses.

In many areas of London, especially the inner boroughs, property prices are expected to rise slowly. In the south-east of England, however, healthy prices rises continue to be predicted. The highest UK increases are expected to be in East Anglia during 2017, with the south-east lying a close second in the tables. The lowest price increases are likely to be in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. All in all, we at James Neave are looking forward to another year of success.