Latest news with #housepurchase
Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Bricks and Disorder: the housemates who became unlikely DIY stars
O la Soyemi and Cullen Farleigh bought a tumbledown house together just as the country went into Covid lockdown. However, unlike many 25-year-olds stepping on to the property ladder, Soyemi and Farleigh were not in a relationship. 'It made sense for me and Ola to buy because we had the same job and same income,' Farleigh says. 'We were working together every day as part of our old job [in creative advertising, which they also studied together at the University of Lincoln], we were a duo, and we have been since university. We worked out that we'd actually spent more time together than most married couples. So the trust was there.' Soyemi and Farleigh had been working together for five years after graduating before deciding to take the plunge. After viewing about ten houses, they put in an offer on a three-bedroom property in east London for £452,000 and moved in in March 2020. They each put in half the £45,000 deposit, and the £1,290-a-month mortgage payments are split equally.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a Brit who's chuffed to have got a house in Bulgaria for £8k…but trolls say they've seen ‘better homes on Shameless'
A BRITISH couple are chuffed to have bought a house in Bulgaria for just £8,000. But not only have people described the huge property as looking 'rough', but one mean troll has even claimed to have seen 'better houses on the Chatsworth Estate on Shameless.' 3 3 3 Posting on social media, Maxwell, 38, and his wife Leah Jones, 29, gave viewers a close-up look outside and inside the huge property, which is in Popovo, Bulgaria. As he took a step inside his new pad, Maxwell was pleased and felt 'very lucky' that his bargain home has UPVC doors and windows everywhere. He showed off the 'big hallway' and the 'original coving' which is still in place around the lights and walls. He described the first bedroom as being in a 'good state', as he admitted: 'Seen a lot worse on the market in Bulgaria for the money.' Maxwell, who plans to take his family over to Bulgaria to renovate the house and eventually become as 'self-sustainable as possible', recognised that despite the electrics being 'half done', he wasn't bothered as he beamed: 'But for £8k, I'll deal with it.' After showing off the huge bedrooms and the large kitchen space, Maxwell gave a quick glance in the bathroom, which was complete with a bath, toilet, sink and radiator. Thrilled with the bathroom, he beamed: 'We're very lucky to get this because a lot of the other houses that we've seen, there was absolutely nothing - every single room needed doing. 'It's all plumbed in, ready to go - needs a bit of love, a bit of TLC and a clean, but that's what we're here for.' Not only does the property have three bedrooms, but there's also a 'massive' barn with 'endless possibilities', and a garage on the land too. As he showed off the outside space, which is 'very overgrown' with 'so much c**p everywhere', Maxwell acknowledged: 'All needs bringing back to life - I can't wait to do that.' Big divide The TikTok clip, which was recently posted online under the username @ maxwellmydailys, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and amassed 1.5 million views. Not only this, but it's also racked up 24,700 likes, 2,339 comments and 2,760 saves. Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. But social media users were totally divided by Maxwell's £8,000 property - while some thought he was 'lucky' to get such a great deal, others described it as looking 'rough.' One user beamed: 'What a steal! It's amazing what you can get here for a good bargain! Wish you all the best!' A second gasped: 'That is one of the best deals I have seen!!!!! LUCKY.' Whilst someone else shared: 'The house is mint for that price.' But at the same time, one person said: 'It's rough.' Another added: 'Seen better state houses on the Chatsworth Estate on Shameless.' Meanwhile, a third chimed in and wrote: 'Don't mean to disappoint you, but this is too high of a price for this property. Source: I am Bulgarian.'
Irish Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish home loans increase by €245 million in April
House purchasing loans increased by €245 million in April in line with a steady increase since May 2024, according to data released by the Central Bank. Its money and banking statistics show that on an annual basis, there was an increase in overall lending to households of €4 billion, or 3.9 per cent, in the 12 months to the end of April. This was mainly led by loans for house purchase, which increased by €3.4 billion, or 4 per cent. Similarly, consumer credit increased by €153 million, with annual flows worth €876 million in the year. Other forms of loans to households continued a downward trend, down €65 million on a monthly basis and €274 million annually. READ MORE Net lending to households was €333 million in April 2025, down from €625 million in the previous month, which the Central Bank said was 'mostly driven by loans for house purchase as well as the float in loans for consumption'. Over the month of April, household deposits recorded a net flow of more than €1.7 billion, which the Central Bank said was 'significantly higher' than the €409 million recorded in March. In annual terms, net household deposits increased by €9.7 billion, or 6.3 per cent, to reach almost €164 billion. Overnight deposits were €2.5 billion during the period, which the Central Bank said was 'significantly higher' than in the prior month. 'This represents the highest annual flow in the year so far after recording two successive slowdowns,' it said. Deposits from non-financial corporations (NFCs) turned positive last month, driven by medium and short-term loans, for a total positive flow of €381 million. Long-term loans, on the other hand, dropped €26 million in the month. In the first quarter of the year, the net asset value of Irish resident investment and money market funds decreased for the first time since Q3 2022, dropping to €4,945 billion. A €56 billion decrease in the net asset value from the final quarter in 2024 to the first three months of the year was due to 'significant negative revaluations, which were partially offset by transaction inflows', the Central Bank said. Equity firms dropped the most, down €49 billion, whereas other, mixed, hedge and real estate funds dropped less than €10 billion. Going against the trend, bond funds increased by €8 billion, and money market funds stayed static at the same level as the previous quarter.
