Posted on: Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Many homeowners dream of property investment for the immaculate sense of achievement and financial opportunities that come with it, which is why more than one in 10 of us in the UK own a second home. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, here’s a guide to get you started.
There are many reasons why you may be considering buying a second home, some of these include:
• To have a weekend retreat, either in the city or the countryside
• To own a home in your favourite holiday location
• To invest your savings into a home which will grow in value
• To help a family member get on the property ladder
• To become a property developer
Research the area. What are the other listings like and are they in good condition? Whether you want to secure a return on investment or find the perfect holiday home, you will need to make sure your property is structurally sound, is situated in an area with strong demand and will be suitable for the lifestyle of any possible target demographics. If you need further help, get in touch with your local Guild Member to clarify your plans, ask for advice and see your project through to completion.
Second homes incur a stamp duty surcharge of 3% on top of the normal rate. If you plan to take out a mortgage, you’ll need a deposit of at least 15%, or 25% if you plan on letting the property out. If you later sell a second home for more than you originally paid, you might be hit with a capital gains tax bill.
If you own your home outright and are looking to buy another, you can remortgage your home rather than take out a second mortgage. You can check how much equity you have in your home by deducting the remaining amount left on your mortgage from the current value of your home. If you have enough equity, you could increase the mortgage on your main home in order to release money to purchase your second home.
Looking for your second home? Contact your local Guild Member today to help guide you through your journey.
We are required by law to conduct anti-money laundering checks on all those selling or buying a property. Whilst we retain responsibility for ensuring checks and any ongoing monitoring are carried out correctly, the initial checks are carried out on our behalf by Lifetime Legal who will contact you once you have agreed to instruct us in your sale or had an offer accepted on a property you wish to buy. The cost of these checks is £60 (incl. VAT), which covers the cost of obtaining relevant data and any manual checks and monitoring which might be required. This fee will need to be paid by you in advance of us publishing your property (in the case of a vendor) or issuing a memorandum of sale (in the case of a buyer), directly to Lifetime Legal, and is non-refundable. We will receive some of the fee taken by Lifetime Legal to compensate for its role in the provision of these checks.