(PRWeb UK) July 30, 2010

Birstall based integrated strategic marketing agency, Fantastic Media, has appointed two new members of staff to strengthen its account management team.

Emily Smith joins as Account Executive to support the team across the agency’s broad range of clients, including Paxman Coolers, Card Factory, Chadwick Lawrence and Northern Commercials. She recently graduated from Huddersfield University with a degree in Advertising, Media and Design Management and is keen to build on her experiences within her new role.

After winning new clients, the agency has also appointed a new Account Manager, James Scarr. James previously worked for a number of full service and digital agencies in Yorkshire across a range of industry sectors, from retail to automotive to sports and leisure.

Responsible for ensuring his clients’ marketing strategies are delivered with precision, James is very keen on keeping up to date with the latest online and offline offerings available, so he can make sure his clients are always one step ahead of the competition.

At almost 5 years old, Fantastic has continually grown to become recognised as one of the region’s most successful integrated agencies, increasing in size year on year.

Andy Hobson, MD at Fantastic, said: “The agency keeps growing and gaining more clients so it was essential for us to recruit more members to the account management team. James and Emily bring valuable skills which will ensure that we continue to achieve consistent, tangible, results for our clients.”

For more information please contact:

Charley Morello

08450 176 090

Notes to Editor:

Fantastic Media

Based in Birstall near Leeds, Fantastic Media is the fastest growing integrated marketing agency in Yorkshire, displaying growth year on year since inception in 2006.

The company operates an ethos of ‘People, Results, Value’, applying these principles to everything it does.

Fantastic offers the full marketing mix of services from strategic planning to web, graphic design, online marketing, print and PR for national and international clients including: Card Factory, Bonmarche, Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, Northern Commercials, Liquid Accounts, prestige car brand Overfinch and several National League football clubs.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebstrategic_marketing/Fantastic_Media/prweb4331784.htm

(PRWEB) July 25, 2010

Property website Rightmove have said the average asking price for a home in England and Wales fell by 0.6% to £236,332 during the four weeks leading up to July 10.

According to Rightmove, an average of 30,000 new homes are currently being put forward for sale each week, which is a 45% increase year-on-year.

The average number of properties that estate agents have available also rose for the fifth consecutive month, reaching 77, which is the highest level there has been since August 2008. This equates to five properties on the market for every two potential buyers who have an approved mortgage.

The estate agent warned conditions were rapidly changing to become a buyers’ market and it expected house prices to lose all of the gains they had made so far in 2010 during the second half of the year.

Matt Spencer of finance site Moneystand.co.uk, said: “The amount of new mortgages being approved each month is less than half the number of new sellers. The stark imbalance is being exacerbated by the increase of nearly 50 per cent in the number of properties coming onto the market compared to a year ago.

“With more aggressive pricing seemingly the current trend, conditions look set for a strong buyers market for the second half of 2010. We could then see the average of 7 per cent price gains of the first-half of 2010 eradicated by the end of the year.”

The set of figures are the latest in a succession of dreary data on the conditions of the housing market, with Halifax also informing that prices fell for the third straight month throughout June.

Spencer continued: “The overall picture is that the property market recovery is stalling and there has been reporting that while average property values inched up by 0.1%, house prices are only rising in 11% of postcodes, which is down 25% four months ago.”

“The only glimmer of light is for those with a mortgage rate for those with a 25% deposit look good, while rates for those with 15% and 10% deposits are getting better.”

Personal finance blog MoneyStand provides unbiased personal finance, IVA and debt related information. Founded in 2008, MoneyStand was created in response to the worsening financial situation of individuals in the UK and across the world. For more information on personal finance, visit www.moneystand.co.uk.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebIVA/07/prweb4298734.htm

House purchase lending was up two per cent in volume and three per cent in value on April, with 42,000 loans worth £6bn completed in May.

Remortgaging activity also increased. The 26,000 loans completed, which were worth £3.2bn, were up six per cent in volume and 10 per cent in value. However, volume and value in May were down 14 per cent on a year earlier.

There were 14,800 loans, worth £1.8 billion, advanced to first-time buyers in May, up from 14,500, worth £1.7 bn, in April and 13,700, worth £1.5 bn, in April 2009.

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(Vocus) July 6, 2010 — When a refinance and/or loan modification fails or is not an option on a property in Southwest Florida, a short sale maybe an attractive foreclosure alternative. Potential short sale sellers are invited to join real estate industry expert and broker Robin Speronis as she host Tell Me Something I Don’t Know short sale webinar series. The free online seminars registration can be accessed at Zen Real Estate’s website www.AskZenRealEstate.com and Luxury Lifestyle Homes’ website www.LuxuryLifestyleHomes.com. The webinars will by presented by a licensed Florida lender, CPA and lawyer respectively and are entitled:

- What Are The Chances That My Lender Will Consider A Short Sale?
July 13, 2010 – 3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT

- How Will The IRS Treat A Short Sale For Tax Purposes?
July 14, 2010 – 3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT

- What About Promissory Notes and Deficiency Judgments With My Short Sale?
July 15, 2010 – 3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT

“A short sale is increasingly becoming a real estate transaction that benefits all parties to the transaction and sellers have many questions”, says Robin Speronis, owner/broker of The Speare House Brokerage Group of Southwest Florida. “Therefore, each of these webinars include a 40 minute question and answer period where attendees not only have an opportunity to have their questions answered by a licensed Florida professional, but also have a chance to learn something that they don’t know about short sales that is not easily found on the internet.”

To register and reserve a virtual seat now for the upcoming online webinars, visit www.AskZenRealEstate.com or www.LuxuryLifestyleHomes.com.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases///prweb4222234.htm

(PRWEB) — Barclays is reducing rates on its Woolwich mortgages by up to 0.70 per cent from Wednesday 23 June, further enhancing its commitment to higher loan to value borrowing.

This follows the announcement earlier this month that Barclays is offering competitively-priced mortgages at 90 per cent lending for customers buying a new Bovis Homes property, narrowing the gap between 70 per cent and 90 per cent mortgage rates. The deal for consumers purchasing from Bovis Homes is fixed for two years at 4.99 per cent.

The key reductions this week include a cut of 0.70 percentage points on a two year fixed rate mortgage (up to 80 per cent LTV) from 5.29 per cent to 4.59 per cent, a reduction of 0.60 percentage points on a three year fixed rate (up to 80 per cent LTV) from 5.49 per cent to 4.89 per cent and a cut of 0.40 percentage points for mortgages up to 85 per cent LTV from 6.19 per cent to 5.79 per cent. All deals come have a £999 application fee. Two other fixed rate deals are being reduced at the 75 per cent LTV tier and there will be a slight increase on the five year fixed for loans up to 70 per cent LTV.

Andy Gray, head of mortgages for Barclays, said: “The improvement to the highest loan to value products will be welcomed by those with smaller deposits, but who still need the certainty of a fixed rate giving a measure of protection from future base rate increases for those who need it most.”

All fixed rate mortgages revert to a lifetime tracker rate at base plus 2.49 per cent after the fixed rate period.

The tracker mortgage range will be maintained and currently includes deals such as base plus 2.19 per cent (up to 70 per cent LTV, £200k minimum loan) and base plus 2.69 per cent (up to 75 per cent LTV), giving consumers some of the strongest rates on the high street. The offset range for loans up to 70 per cent LTV also continues to be maintained at its present rates and a new 75 per cent LTV product at base plus 2.99 per cent is added.

Fixed Rates
Term LTV Old Rate New Rate Change Old Fee New Fee Change
2 70% 3.29% 3.29% No change £1,999
2 70% 3.49% 3.49% No change £999
2 70% 3.79% 3.79% No change £499 £199 -£300
2 75% 3.69% 3.59% -0.10% £999
2 75% 4.09% 3.99% -0.10% £499 £199 -£300
2 80% 5.29% 4.59% -0.70% £999
3 70% 4.09% 4.09% No change £999
3 70% 4.39% 4.39% No change £499 £199 -£300
3 80% 5.49% 4.89% -0.60% £999
3 85% 6.19% 5.79% -0.40% £999
5 70% 4.44% 4.67% +0.23% £999
5 80% 5.49% 5.49% No change £999

Tracker Rates
Term LTV Old Rate New Rate Change Fee
Life 70% 2.19% 2.19% No change £1,499
Life 70% 2.39% 2.39% No change £999
Life 70% 2.69% 2.69% No change £0
Life 75% 2.69% 2.69% No change £999
Life 75% 2.99% 2.99% No change £0

Offset Rates
Term LTV Old Rate New Rate Change Fee
Life 70% 2.39% 2.39% No change £1,499
Life 70% 2.59% 2.59% No change £999
Life 75% 2.99% New £999

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking (current accounts and savings accounts), credit cards, corporate banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 140,000 people. Barclays moves, invests and protects money and provides personal loans, home insurance, life insurance and other services for over 49 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.co.uk.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/06/prweb4181444.htm

Naples, FL (Vocus) June 13, 2010 — Last December, CoreLogic announced an amazing statistic: “Homeowners with mortgages of more than $1 million are defaulting at almost twice the US rate.” With many people believing that oil from the British Petroleum oil spill has already reached the shores of Southwest Florida, some experts speculate that we are just starting to see the tip of the ice berg with luxury short sales in Southwest Florida as a new element of risk has been added to the mostly high-end coastal real estate pushing down already depressed property values.

Luxury Lifestyle Homes of Southwest Florida (www.LuxuryLifeStyleHomes.com) founder, entrepreneur and real estate broker Robin Speronis reports that, “What will likely make sense in the expected major environmental and economic catastrophe, will be an increase in local short sales of luxury homes. Recently lenders have embraced short sales over foreclosures. Such deals will get owners out from the burden of their homes while lenders would not have to expand foreclosures rosters or endure further losses.” But Speronis warns would-be short sale sellers that, “Still, at the present time only a third of short sale listings actually close. In this complex transaction, a listing agent with the varied skills more like a ‘Real Estate Liquidator’ is key to a successful closing.”

Even before the oil spill there has been a great shift in the real estate market away from foreclosures to short sales. Today, most major lenders have appointed new senior executives to handle the high volume of short sales and implement new systems to streamline the workflow and provide feedback to the various parties to the short sale transaction.

For more information or to chat with Robin Speronis please visit www.LuxuryLifeStyleHomes.com

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/06/prweb4130204.htm

(Vocus) June 11, 2010 — A one of a kind, direct access estate home, on a 200 foot intersecting canal with 320 feet of southern exposure water front, is now available for sale as a bank owned foreclosure for $465,200 or $94.82 a square foot. Built in 1984 this estate home is 4,906 square feet, has three distinct separate living areas, 6 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, and 2 full kitchens. Zen Real Estate (www.AskZenRealEstate.com) broker Robin Speronis alerts buyers of unique luxury waterfront estate homes in Southwest Florida that this estate home represents a great bargain in this real estate market.

“The lot alone on almost half an acre of land in Cape Coral’s Gold Coast, on a 200 foot southern exposure intersecting canal with 320 feet of water frontage, has long term value and is worth the asking price of this property, ” says Robin Speronis, owner/broker of Zen Real Estate of Southwest Florida. “But, this home is far from a tear down and is also close to shopping and dining. A buyer of this type of foreclosure can expect to have to do a lot of cosmetic work, some updating and probably some repairs.”

A recently sold comparable, sold for $464,000 or $162.64 a square foot on May 18, 2010. The comparable was built in 1988; sits on .320 acres of land with 260 feet of northern exposure water frontage. The comparable home is 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2,853 square feet.

The website www.AskZenRealEstate.com has details and pictures on this direct Gulf access bank owned estate home in Cape Coral, Florida. Broker Robin Speronis is also available to answer questions on this estate as well as other properties in Southwest Florida through an integrated chat feature on the website.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases///prweb4120334.htm

Naples, Fl (Vocus) May 28, 2010 — Southwest Florida-based LuxuryLifeStyleHomes.com now offers their buyers and sellers of luxury homes in Southwest Florida the gift of time with a team of personal assistants available 24/7, 365 days year in the US and Canada. Luxury Lifestyle Homes’ team of personal assistants are highly trained and have access to many private databases so they are able to answer any question and research any subject. Buyers and sellers of luxury homes can lean how to become clients of Luxury Lifestyle Homes and qualify for a free personal assistant at www.LuxuryLifeStyleHomes.com

“Our highly trained, professional personal assistants embrace technology and maintain a strong human connection which eliminates much of the stress involved with buying or selling a luxury home in this market,” says Robin Speronis, owner/broker of Luxury Lifestyle Homes of Southwest Florida.

Broker Robin Speronis and her team at Luxury Lifestyle Homes have vast experience in the area’s high-end luxury market lifestyle as well as the real estate. Luxury Lifestyle Homes was founded by Speronis to help her clients celebrate their success in Southwest Florida. The company is co-owned by Xenophon “Zenny” Speronis, who joined the company last year as a consultant. Zenny is a retired entrepreneur and civic activist whose visionary talents for community building and recognizing connected neighborhoods are legendary. The company believes in “high touch” old-fashioned handcrafted service enhanced by extraordinary “high tech” tools.

For more information on how to qualify for a free personal assistant during the home buying or selling process go to www.LuxuryLifeStyleHomes.com

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb4064484.htm

Hips, which were launched in 2007 and have since become mandatory for anyone selling a home, have been dogged by criticism. Estate agents have long complained they add red tape to the selling process, while sellers have grumbled about the £200-£400 price tag attached to the packs.

Today communities secretary, Eric Pickles, laid an order before parliament suspending Hips, pending primary legislation for a permanent abolition.

“The expensive and unnecessary home information pack has increased the cost and hassle of selling homes and is stifling a fragile housing market,” he said. “That is why I am taking emergency action to suspend the Hip, bringing down the cost of selling a home and removing unnecessary regulation from the home buying process.

“This action will encourage sellers back into the market, and help the market as a whole and the economy recover.”

Sellers will still be required to get an energy performance certificate (EPC), showing how energy efficient a property is, within 28 days of putting their home on the market, as this is a requirement under EU law. The cost of these is typically around £60.

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Net mortgage lending, which excludes repayments and redemptions, rose by £2.4 billion, the smallest rise since July last year, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said.

The association said that 34,905 mortgages were approved last month, substantially lower than the figures during the final months of last year, which peaked at a two-year high of 45,823 in December.

The higher figures were prompted by the stamp duty holiday, in which the tax threshold was raised from £125,000 to £175,000, which ended at the start of this year.

The number of approvals was 20 per cent higher than the level reported for March last year.

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