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The latest news from Andrew Craig




<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">South Shields</span>

Asking Price £750,000
A very unique and individual six bed detached house with attached salon! Situated on an extensive plot with gardens to front rear and side and a long drive that can provide off road parking for multiple vehicles which leads to a detached single garage which is accessed by an electric roller shutter door.

Click here to read <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">South Shields</span>.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Celtic Close, Cleadon Village</span>

Asking Price £499,999
With a privileged position of peace and privacy situated in a quiet cul-de-sac this Detached Home offers great family sized accommodation with gardens, ample driveway space and a double garage. The entrance hall has a dog legged staircase and is central to the home allowing access to the spacious family lounge.

Click here to read <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Celtic Close, Cleadon Village</span>.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">The Bonny Comet - Bar and Restaurant</span>

Visit The Bonny Comet
 
The Bonny Comet, located in the heart of Low Fell, serves fresh, seasonal dishes in a welcoming and relaxing neighbourhood setting.
 
This is the ideal setting for any occasion, from intimate dinners to large celebrations, morning coffees and after work drinks, as we provide our warm service all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
 
Along with our incredible modern classics menu, a fine selection of drinks including quality cocktails, real ales, and carefully curated wines will be served.

Click here to read <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">The Bonny Comet - Bar and Restaurant</span>.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Housing supply the UK starts to improve</span>

 
This month, property search portal OnTheMarket published its Property Sentiment Index, offering insights into how things might be changing. According to the report, the number of sale listings is rising, slightly dampening the issue of supply.
 
In addition, strong market growth over the past two years means that 82% of buyers still believe they can achieve a completion within three months. Along with the promise of moving in time for summer, this confidence is further driving homeowners to list their properties for sale.*
 
However, due to an inherent lack of housing stock nationwide, prices are unlikely to drop dramatically any time soon. Instead, buyers should look for the coming window of opportunity as the market settles to an ‘elevated version of the pre-pandemic market’.*
 
Looking to buy? Browse our available properties here.
 
 
*OnTheMarket



<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;">Get financially fit before your property purchase?</span>

 
By clarifying your financial position before buying a home, you can improve your chances of securing a mortgage while granting yourself a little peace of mind. Here are three tips to get you started:
 
1) Determine a workable budget
Identifying how your income compares to your spending will allow you to estimate the size of the mortgage you can realistically afford. Start by creating a simple spreadsheet listing fixed costs such as rent, repayments, subscriptions and council tax, and averages for other bills. Don’t forget yearly expenses like annually renewing memberships, holidays, and general house and vehicle maintenance.
 
Once you can see how your monthly outgoings match up to your income, you’ll know what you can afford to pay towards a mortgage. You can also use an online mortgage calculator or talk to a mortgage advisor to identify ways to give yourself more wiggle room.
 
2) Create a savings target
Now that you have your budget in hand, it’s time to set a realistic savings goal for a deposit or to give yourself a buffer to cope with the cost of moving. Use your spreadsheet to find ways you can reduce expenditure. Possible solutions include swapping energy suppliers, cutting out luxuries and unnecessary subscriptions, or postponing holidays.
 
There are some less painful ways to save, too. For example, government-backed Lifetime ISAs offer first-time buyers the chance to top up their savings by 25% each year, up to £1,000. Alternatively, many banks allow you to round up all your purchases to the nearest pound and transfer the difference into a savings account.
 
3) Deal with bad credit
Before applying for a mortgage, check your credit rating with a reputable agency like Experian or Equifax. If you spot any errors, get them fixed as soon as possible. Lenders will use your credit rating to determine if and how much you can borrow, so correcting mistakes is a crucial step toward financial fitness.
 
Our friendly team can help you find the perfect home within your budget. Just contact us to chat about your requirements.
 
 



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Make your summer house move stress-free with children</span>

 

Even if you've discovered your dream home in the ideal location, the process may be stressful, especially if you're relocating with children.

 

Whether it's for a new career opportunity, to be closer to family, or to make a necessary lifestyle adjustment, uprooting your life may make sense to you. Your children, on the other hand, may not be as understanding, as everything they know and are used to is about to change. You can use a few tricks to make the transition go as smoothly as possible.

 

As soon as possible, inform your children

According to some parenting experts, you should tell your children as soon as possible. It may be difficult to remain a secret for long, as you will almost certainly have possible buyers coming in and out of your home, and your children will notice something is different. You don't want to keep anything from them because it will just add to your stress level, so inform them as soon as possible to make them feel included. Include them and make it more exciting by allowing them to help choose the new house and plan what they want to take with them if they're up for it.

 

Allow them to be emotional

It may be difficult to watch, but when your children scream or throw tantrums, remember that this is a normal reaction and that you should allow them to be upset. Their entire lives are changing, and the relocation may be separating them from friends, cherished family members such as grandparents, or a childminder they've known since childhood. Instead of becoming furious, try to understand why they aren't accepting the changes immediately. Each child is unique and adjusts to change at their own rate, but it often takes six months for children to adjust to their new life in a new place.

 

Talk about what will remain the same

The stress of so much change might be difficult for your children. Rather than focusing on what will be changing, remind them of what will remain the same. Their bedrooms may differ, but their possessions will be identical. Even if their schools are different, all of their after-school activities will remain the same. It may be difficult for them to focus on the similarities, so try your best to remind them as much as possible.

 

Stick to old routines

Just because you've moved to a new location doesn't mean you should abandon your old habits. Remember that you need to keep certain pieces of your previous life constant for your children to adjust, and keeping at-home routines running is a terrific way to do so. If kids have certain after-school rituals, try to stick to them as closely as possible, even if some things change.

 

Prepare everyone

Don't be caught off guard when it comes to moving day! Starting the moving process as soon as possible will help you avoid a last-minute rush to pack and clean. It's a good idea to prepare an overnight bag for everyone for both the last night in your old home and the first night in your new one, so you don't have to unpack right away after a long day.

 

Allow your children to express themselves

Allowing your children to participate in the entire moving and packing process will provide them with a sense of stability and control over the changes in their surroundings. Ask about their thoughts on topics such as what to pack and how to decorate their new rooms!

 

Contact our friendly team for useful guidance on all areas of moving home, and we will be happy to assist.

 



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Ten steps to finding your perfect home</span>

 
If you are searching for a home, you will want to follow these steps to help you along the way.
 
1. Set a sensible budget
To help set a sensible budget, it can help to involve a specialist mortgage advisor at this early stage. Decide on a monthly mortgage repayment which is affordable for you, allowing for this to increase in line with interest rates. Then consider how much you can afford to put down as a deposit. With these figures in mind, work out how much you would like to borrow and establish a price range for your property search.
 
2. Get your paperwork in order
One of the most common mistakes buyers make is not getting a mortgage agreement in principle. If you are looking to purchase a new house with a mortgage, this can be a useful step in your search.
 
3. Decide on your deal-breakers
With your budget in mind, decide on your deal-breakers. Determine what you need from your home – location, number of bedrooms, outside space and parking. Then make a list of things you would like, but are not essential. Decide what you are willing to compromise on and what you are not.
 
4. List your existing home
If you need to sell your existing home, it can be a good idea to list it on the market before you start the search for a new one. This will make you more appealing to prospective sellers and could avoid some of the delays associated with being in a chain.
 
5. Start the search
In addition to using the popular property portals, register your interest with your local estate agent. Give as much information to your agent about your budget, timeframe for moving, requirement to sell before buying and your dealbreakers.
 
6. Think ahead
Think about what might be important to you in the coming years. If you plan to start a family, for example, consider the availability of local nurseries. Look for good local schools and place yourself well within their catchment areas. If you are approaching retirement, it may be worth considering single-storey living, as well as looking at the proximity of local transport and facilities like shops and GP surgeries.
 
7. Maximise each viewing
When you look at a prospective new home, look carefully and thoroughly. Imagine yourself living in the home, visualise how you would use each room and whether the layout of the house would work for you. Keep an open mind and think about a property’s potential, looking beyond the current décor and the seller’s furniture.
 
8. Consider the surroundings
It may be a cliché but, when it comes to buying, think ‘location, location, location’. Will you feel comfortable in the area, and does it have everything you need?
 
9. Choose head over heart
Buying a house can be a really emotional process for many of us. Avoid being swept away by a property you fall in love with, but which is outside your budget or falls short of your dealbreaker list.
 
10. Take your time, but not too much time!
Making rash decisions and rushing are things to avoid when buying a new home. Equally, leaving it too long to take action may mean you miss out.
 
If you are looking for your perfect home, check out our latest listings.
 



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Housing supply starts to improve</span>

 
This month, property search portal OnTheMarket published its Property Sentiment Index, offering insights into how things might be changing. According to the report, the number of sale listings is rising, slightly dampening the issue of supply.
 
In addition, strong market growth over the past two years means that 82% of buyers still believe they can achieve a completion within three months. Along with the promise of moving in time for summer, this confidence is further driving homeowners to list their properties for sale. *
 
However, due to an inherent lack of housing stock nationwide, prices are unlikely to drop dramatically any time soon. Instead, buyers should look for the coming window of opportunity as the market settles to an ‘elevated version of the pre-pandemic market’.*
 
Looking to buy? Browse our available properties here.
 
*OnTheMarket



<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;">Get financially fit before your first property purchase</span>

By clarifying your financial position before buying a home, you can improve your chances of securing a mortgage while granting yourself a little peace of mind. Here are three tips to get you started:
 
1) Determine a workable budget
 
Identifying how your income compares to your spending will allow you to estimate the size of the mortgage you can realistically afford. Start by creating a simple spreadsheet listing fixed costs such as rent, repayments, subscriptions and council tax, and averages for other bills. Don’t forget yearly expenses like annually renewing memberships, holidays, and general house and vehicle maintenance.
 
Once you can see how your monthly outgoings match up to your income, you’ll know what you can afford to pay towards a mortgage. You can also use an online mortgage calculator or talk to a mortgage advisor to identify ways to give yourself more wiggle room.
 
2) Create a savings target
 
Now that you have your budget in hand, it’s time to set a realistic savings goal for a deposit or to give yourself a buffer to cope with the cost of moving. Use your spreadsheet to find ways you can reduce expenditure. Possible solutions include swapping energy suppliers, cutting out luxuries and unnecessary subscriptions, or postponing holidays.
 
There are some less painful ways to save, too. For example, government-backed Lifetime ISAs offer first-time buyers the chance to top up their savings by 25% each year, up to £1,000. Alternatively, many banks allow you to round up all your purchases to the nearest pound and transfer the difference into a savings account.
 
3) Deal with bad credit
 
Before applying for a mortgage, check your credit rating with a reputable agency like Experian or Equifax. If you spot any errors, get them fixed as soon as possible. Lenders will use your credit rating to determine if and how much you can borrow, so correcting mistakes is a crucial step toward financial fitness.
 
Our friendly team can help you find the perfect home within your budget. Just contact us to chat about your requirements.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Make your summer house move stress-free with children</span>

 

Even if you've discovered your dream home in the ideal location, the process may be stressful, especially if you're relocating with children. 

Whether it's for a new career opportunity, to be closer to family, or to make a necessary lifestyle adjustment, uprooting your life may make sense to you. Your children, on the other hand, may not be as understanding, as everything they know and are used to is about to change. You can use a few tricks to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. 

 

As soon as possible, inform your children 

 

According to some parenting experts, you should tell your children as soon as possible. It may be difficult to remain a secret for long, as you will almost certainly have possible buyers coming in and out of your home, and your children will notice something is different. You don't want to keep anything from them because it will just add to your stress level, so inform them as soon as possible to make them feel included. Include them and make it more exciting by allowing them to help choose the new house and plan what they want to take with them if they're up for it.

  

Allow them to be emotional 

 

It may be difficult to watch, but when your children scream or throw tantrums, remember that this is a normal reaction and that you should allow them to be upset. Their entire lives are changing, and the relocation may be separating them from friends, cherished family members such as grandparents, or a childminder they've known since childhood. Instead of becoming furious, try to understand why they aren't accepting the changes immediately. Each child is unique and adjusts to change at their own rate, but it often takes six months for children to adjust to their new life in a new place. 

 

Talk about what will remain the same 

 

The stress of so much change might be difficult for your children. Rather than focusing on what will be changing, remind them of what will remain the same. Their bedrooms may differ, but their possessions will be identical. Even if their schools are different, all of their after-school activities will remain the same. It may be difficult for them to focus on the similarities, so try your best to remind them as much as possible. 

 

Stick to old routines 

 

Just because you've moved to a new location doesn't mean you should abandon your old habits. Remember that you need to keep certain pieces of your previous life constant for your children to adjust, and keeping at-home routines running is a terrific way to do so. If kids have certain after-school rituals, try to stick to them as closely as possible, even if some things change. 

 

Prepare everyone 

 

Don't be caught off guard when it comes to moving day! Starting the moving process as soon as possible will help you avoid a last-minute rush to pack and clean. It's a good idea to prepare an overnight bag for everyone for both the last night in your old home and the first night in your new one, so you don't have to unpack right away after a long day. 

 

Allow your children to express themselves 

 

Allowing your children to participate in the entire moving and packing process will provide them with a sense of stability and control over the changes in their surroundings. Ask about their thoughts on topics such as what to pack and how to decorate their new rooms! 

 

Contact our friendly team for useful guidance on all areas of moving home, and we will be happy to assist. 



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Ten steps to finding your perfect home</span>

If you are searching for a home, you will want to follow these steps to help you along the way.
 
1. Set a sensible budget
 
To help set a sensible budget, it can help to involve a specialist mortgage advisor at this early stage. Decide on a monthly mortgage repayment which is affordable for you, allowing for this to increase in line with interest rates. Then consider how much you can afford to put down as a deposit. With these figures in mind, work out how much you would like to borrow and establish a price range for your property search.
 
2. Get your paperwork in order
 
One of the most common mistakes buyers make is not getting a mortgage agreement in principle. If you are looking to purchase a new house with a mortgage, this can be a useful step in your search.
 
3. Decide on your deal-breakers
 
With your budget in mind, decide on your deal-breakers. Determine what you need from your home – location, number of bedrooms, outside space and parking. Then make a list of things you would like, but are not essential. Decide what you are willing to compromise on and what you are not.
 
4. List your existing home
 
If you need to sell your existing home, it can be a good idea to list it on the market before you start the search for a new one. This will make you more appealing to prospective sellers and could avoid some of the delays associated with being in a chain.
 
5. Start the search
 
In addition to using the popular property portals, register your interest with your local estate agent. Give as much information to your agent about your budget, timeframe for moving, requirement to sell before buying and your dealbreakers.
 
6. Think ahead
 
Think about what might be important to you in the coming years. If you plan to start a family, for example, consider the availability of local nurseries. Look for good local schools and place yourself well within their catchment areas. If you are approaching retirement, it may be worth considering single-storey living, as well as looking at the proximity of local transport and facilities like shops and GP surgeries.
 
7. Maximise each viewing
 
When you look at a prospective new home, look carefully and thoroughly. Imagine yourself living in the home, visualise how you would use each room and whether the layout of the house would work for you. Keep an open mind and think about a property’s potential, looking beyond the current décor and the seller’s furniture.
 
8. Consider the surroundings
 
It may be a cliché but, when it comes to buying, think ‘location, location, location’. Will you feel comfortable in the area, and does it have everything you need?
 
9. Choose head over heart
 
Buying a house can be a really emotional process for many of us. Avoid being swept away by a property you fall in love with, but which is outside your budget or falls short of your dealbreaker list.
 
10. Take your time, but not too much time!
 
Making rash decisions and rushing are things to avoid when buying a new home. Equally, leaving it too long to take action may mean you miss out.
 
If you are looking for your perfect home, check out our latest listings.




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