Marc Shoffman

Marc Shoffman is a freelance journalist specialising in business, personal finance and property. He also co-presents the In For A Penny financial planning podcast.

How to spot a looming house price crash

From our UK edition

From the man down the pub/on Twitter to major lenders and think-tanks, homebuyers and sellers can barely move for so-called experts dishing out advice on the property market. Rising interest rates and increased mortgage costs have prompted fears of a house price slump, with Capital Economics predicting a 5 per cent drop over the next two years. Credit Suisse is forecasting that prices could fall by as much as 15 per cent if interest rates hit 6 per cent – making it more of crash than slowdown. Buyers don’t want to make a major purchase at the top of the market, and sellers may be hesitant to list if they aren’t going to get what they feel is the best price.

Your home insurance holds the key to property disputes

From our UK edition

Rising house prices and a lack of properties has prompted many homeowners to improve rather than move. And who can blame them? According to the latest Halifax House Price Index, property values took a massive leap in the 12 months to the end of March, rising more than 10 per cent to £214,811. This is the biggest rise since July 2014. It’s no wonder that homeowners are deciding to improve their own property rather than make do with the lacklustre stock on the market. But spare a thought for those on the receiving end of an eager neighbour undergoing renovations. As more people decide to make improvements, many could find themselves facing disputes ranging from boundaries to the rise of iceberg basements.