London’s luxury-home market looks to rich Americans to save it

As luxury property sales continue to slump this year, Americans seem to be proving to be the UK premium property market’s saving grace.

Speaking with Damien Shepherd for Bloomberg, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner reflected on why our fancy friends from across the pond are increasingly looking to buy property in the UK.

“For many of our US clients, they see London as a safe haven compared to the US, where anyone can own a gun,” she said. “There has also been an explosion of wealth in the tech sector in the US. When people get wealthy, they buy assets, and London is a key recipient of that.”

Read the full article here.

Call my Buying Agent! Black Brick in Financial Times

We are delighted to have been featured in The Financial Times this week, in a new piece that spotlights premium buying agencies in London and the wider UK.

Speaking with writer Cathy Hawker, Black Brick’s Founder, Camilla Dell, shared insight into the hidden world of premium property, and reflected how current times have affected the market and growing need for buying agencies like Black Brick.

“Over the past two years, half of my clients, appointing a buying agent for the first time, have a budget below £3mn. Using one is much more understood now. Off-market properties are more prevalent and transaction costs much steeper. The stakes for getting it wrong are so much higher. Going into the London market without a buying agent is a bit like going to court without a lawyer.”, she commented.

Read the full article here.

Is buying a listed property worth it?

Listed homes are usually worth around 50% more than unlisted ones, but there are often extra hidden costs and damages that buyers should be cautious of.

Sharing his insight into the nooks and crannies of the property market, Black Brick Buying Agent Tom Kain advises in The Times this week that buyers looking at listed properties should always be wary of undisclosed building consent regulations before buying anything.

“It is a case of buyer beware when understanding how they have been updated,” he said. To avoid an unexpected bill, Kain recommends asking a surveyor to compare the building with the listing description and commissioning a heritage consultant report that outlines whether enforcement is likely and gives an idea of the costs involved.

Read the full article here.

Best places to live by the sea in the UK 2024

As people increasingly begin to crave a slower-paced lifestyle away from the concrete jungles of the UK, seaside properties are fast becoming some of our nation’s most desired places to live.

Our Regional Director for Cornwall, Anna Sharp has offered her thoughts to The Times this week to share her expertise on which particular seaside towns home hunters should be looking at to buy in 2024.

From the stunning sandy beaches of Cornwall to the wild coasts of Scotland, there are so many great places to live by the sea in our beautiful nation. But when you account for each seaside town’s culture, property pricing and architectural attraction, it’s clear to see which places are ranking the very best.

Read the article here.

London’s luxury real estate developers up the ante with Botox, Wegovy

Luxury features of London’s priciest housing developments are getting more and more competitive – and outlandish.

Having a huge pool or 24-hour concierge service is no longer enough for London’s premium property buyers. The solution? Developers are now offering amenities that include exclusive access to private member clubs, private cars to drive children to school, and even doctor services with Botox treatments available.

“Buyers of these sort of very expensive new-build homes are looking for more than just the apartment itself,” Camilla Dell, Founder of buying agency Black Brick, shared in the latest Bloomberg article. “Now, I’m seeing developments that—as well as having great amenities within them—are also offering a lifestyle through being able to organize child care, walk your pets, and offering things like what Chelsea Barracks are doing.”

Read the full article here.

How pets are helping to sell homes

In a new piece for The Financial Times this week, Black Brick Founder Camilla Dell shares why pets are increasingly being featured in property listing images as a way to attract buyers.

“I think pets give more of a human element to the property,” Camilla said. “It’s not this pristine show home that no one has ever lived in.”

Read the full article here.

The (not so) quiet Americans snapping up Britain’s best homes

Rich buyers from the US don’t care so much about UK politics, they’re happy to pay premium for the best of our country’s properties.

“None of [our American clients] are really talking to us about a Labour government or the general election and how that may impact them,” Camilla Dell, Founder of Black Brick, told The Times this week. “Some of them have been talking to us about Donald Trump, saying that if he gets elected [in the US] they’re going to think twice whether they want to stay there or even come here permanently. But others think Trump is good news for anybody in America who’s got money.”

Read the full article here.

Should you sell your house on social media?

Writing in The Times this week, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner, Camilla Dell shares her thoughts on the recent trend of listing properties for sale on social media.

“This week alone I must have been sent a dozen invitations to champagne-fuelled property launches. The last time I was being sent this sort of invitation was before the financial crisis.”, she revered.

“The properties I see pop up on my social feed are often overpriced or compromised, or both. Sometimes they have been on the market for long periods, with various agents pushing them on their feeds with slightly different shouty loud music.”

Read the full article here.

How to secure your dream home at a price you can afford

In our latest feature in the press, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner, Camilla Dell features in The Standard to offer her advice to home buyers looking to get the best deal for their budgets.

“Understanding why someone is selling is crucial to understanding how far you may be able to push negotiations,” Camilla said. “Do they have a mortgage on the property? How long have they been trying to sell for? What offers have they received previously (if any)?”.

She also added: “Have you told the seller why you want to buy their home? A personal touch can go a long way sometimes, think about including a note on why you love the property when you formally submit an offer.”

What does the end of non-dom status mean for the prime property market?

With the news of non-dom tax regime abolition, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner, Camilla Dell featured in PrimeResi this week to share her thoughts, alongside a panel of other experts in prime central London property.

The key consensus? The are no positive takeaways, Camilla concluded:

“There are no positive takeaways with either the Labour or Conservative Party proposed changes to the UK Res Non Dom regime and undoubtedly these changes will cause some UK Res Non Doms to leave the UK in search of more tax friendly jurisdictions and deter some wealthy people from relocating to the UK. Four years simply isn’t long enough for families to settle.

However it remains to be seen what effect the changes will have on PCL property pricing. Quitting the UK doesn’t necessarily mean a property gets sold in the process. And some UK Res Non Doms who have been in the UK for many years and built a life here may decide to swallow the changes as their lives and their families lives would be too disrupted by leaving.”

Read the full article here.