Property Gold: The Hidden Property Sector

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond. This month, Alex discusses ‘off-market’ property sales.

There has been a part of the property market that has been steadily gaining strength and which remains hidden to many – and that is the off-market sector.

To the uninitiated, these are properties that are not available in the public domain. They are not listed on any of your favourite property portals and are on a confidential need-to-know basis only. Gaining access to these properties can be via the estate agents, whereby they are instructed on a low-key basis or directly to the vendors themselves.

In this digital age run by algorithms and online targeting, one could understandably think this was a somewhat backward step? However, this is where there has been a power shift in thinking.

No longer do some vendors want their homes (and names) blurted out online for their information to be available to all and sundry for years to come, with no control over the information released. Owners are ever more mindful of their online footprint and digital presence, where for a number of reasons they may wish to keep this to a minimum.

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On the flip side, agents are finding that by going back to ‘old school’ basics, they are getting better and more profitable transactions over the line. Albeit the one major downside of selling a property off-market, is that you are not strictly testing the entire market. Therefore, is this the best price the market could have achieved? Only you can decide.

Getting access to these properties can be tricky, as often the properties are tightly controlled with information only being given to those known to be in proceedable buying positions. Again, I am seeing that reliability and security of buyers is paramount and often takes precedent over the offer amount.

Therefore, as a buyer if you want access to these properties, you need to be in the best possible buying position and have the right connections to boot. Being ‘Under Offer’ is good, but it doesn’t have the same clout that it once did. This is primarily as legals and lenders take so much longer than several years ago. Bolt these into a small chain and you are already looking high risk in the eyes of vendors and agents. It is therefore vital that you get as close to exchange as possible or ideally over this point, to have the leverage required to gain access to this club. Then the doors start to open…

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him on alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

Ripon Tennis Centre seeks local support to build padel courts

Ripon Tennis Centre has asked locals in the Harrogate district to help fund two padel tennis courts.

The sport is growing in popularity and the crowdfunding project hopes to raise £30,000.

Sport England is making a donation of £10,000 and the Lawn Tennis Association will also be contributing with a loan.

The LTA has recognised padel tennis as an official sport.

Diane Hutchinson, centre manager, said:

“Padel is a great sport, we would love for it to accompany tennis at our centre”

“£30,000 is a lot to raise, we welcome any support whether it be big or small”

“The club welcomes people from all walks of life”

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Padel is a cross between squash and tennis. A padel court is one third the size of a normal tennis court and has glass around the court for the balls to bounce off.

Padel tennis racquets

The crowdfunding campaign has already received some attention, with Rudding Park donating a one night stay and spa day, as well as a golf day, to be sold by Ripon Tennis Centre to help raise money.

Ripon Tennis Centre said it has started to see a rise in new memberships post the pandemic and hopes even more will join after Emma Raducanu’s historic US Grand Slam win.

Harrogate student stars in second series of All Creatures Great and Small

Popular drama All Creatures Great and Small returns tonight on Channel 5  with Harrogate Grammar student Imogen Clawson reprising her role as Jenny Alderson.

Fourteen year old Imogen has just started studying for her GSCEs and had to do an hour a day tutoring whilst she was on the TV set.

It is the second time James Herriot’s famous books, as life as a vet in the Dales, have been dramatised for TV.  It’s has been a big success for Channel 5 bringing in millions of viewers.

When asked about the similarities she shares with her character Jenny Alderson, Imogen said:

“We share the same confident flair, we’re both independent and witty, and we both have a love for animals”

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Imogen said it has been great to work with the cast of All Creatures Great and Small and how supportive her school, Harrogate Grammar, has been.

Neil Renton, head teacher of HGS, said:

“We are incredibly proud of Imogen’s achievements and her commitment to the arts. She effectively balances the pressures of her acting role with her studies and this a real credit to her dedication. We look forward to watching the new series and seeing her future career unfold.”

Imogen added that the show’s success may also be down to timing :

“It’s a great show to watch after covid 19 as it’s a very relaxing show.”

Series 2 of All Creatures Great and Small starts at 9pm tonight on Channel 5, Thursday, September 16.

Sixty one new covid cases in the Harrogate district

There have been sixty one new cases of covid in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England.

It brings the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic to 14,506.

NHS England statistics no longer report deaths from patients who tested positive for covid on a weekend.

Earlier this week, Harrogate District Hospital recorded its sixth covid death in three weeks.

It means the number of deaths at the hospital of people who have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020 currently stands at 185.

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The seven day case average case rate per 100,000 population in the Harrogate district is now the highest of all the North Yorkshire districts at 424 (latest data up to September 9).

The North Yorkshire average is now 352.1.

 

John Plummer appointed Editor of the Stray Ferret

John Plummer is to take over the reins as Editor of the Stray Ferret.

John succeeds Tamsin O’Brien, who is to become Managing Editor and have a more strategic role.

John began his career as a journalist on local newspapers in his native Fens.

He later moved to London where he worked for, amongst others, The Times and Third Sector, which covers the UK voluntary sector.

In September last year he was appointed Deputy Editor of the Stray Ferret, where he worked alongside fellow Deputy Editor Vicky Carr, who is currently on maternity leave.

John has one daughter and has lived in Killinghall for about 10 years.

The Stray Ferret has seen a rapid growth in readership — last month we had more than 736,000 page views covering every aspect of news in the district.

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Tamsin said:

“John has been a very capable Deputy Editor and I am delighted to promote him to Editor.

“He has brought a wealth of journalism experience to the team and I am sure that under his leadership the Stray Ferret will continue to grow its readership and not be afraid to cover all the important stories in the district.

“It’s the right time for me to take a more strategic role across the whole business”

Have you got a story for the Stray Ferret news team or think there is an issue we need to investigate? Please get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate Hospital Radio set to begin FM broadcasting

Harrogate Hospital Radio will begin broadcasting on FM next week after a three-year fight for its’ licence.

It will be launching on 95.3FM at 9:53am next Wednesday, September 1.

The station has been broadcasting since 1977 but will now move to FM radio to allow greater access for patients and staff.

The station will be heard from around a 2km radius surrounding the hospital. It will also continue to be available online and through the station’s app.

The transmitter will be switched on by Andrew Jones MP who gave his support during the battle for an FM licence.

The rest of the day will be hosted by the radio’s chairman Mark Oldfield, alongside guest presenters.

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After being rejected for an FM licence twice, Mark set up a petition online which gained over 500 signatures and the attention of MP Andrew Jones.

Mark said;

“Support from Andrew Jones and those signing the petition helped us immensely; we can continue to run a station for patients, families and hospital staff.”

The licence approval makes it one of the first hospital radio stations in the country to be broadcast on FM.

Seventy seven new cases of covid in district

There have been 77 new coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours.

It brings the total number of people who have tested positive for covid in the district since the pandemic began to 13,283.

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Harrogate’s seven day average case rate is 296.0 – lower than the North Yorkshire average of 309.2. (latest data August 27)

According to the latest figures, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 10 patients for covid.

The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics. However, two people have recently died at the hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

 

 

Starbeck Community Day set to return today

Starbeck Community Day will be returning today after being cancelled last year due to covid.

The free event will be hosted at Harrogate Railway’s Station View ground from 12pm until 4pm.

Guests can enjoy craft and homemade stalls, live music and activities such as a bouncy castle and inflatable jousting.

There will be appearances from the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate.

All money made from the event will go towards Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.

Event organiser Chrissie Holmes expressed her enthusiasm for the event:

“I’m really excited especially because we missed out on hosting the event last year; this will be our way of giving back to residents of Starbeck.”

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Chrissie confirmed that there will be 30 stalls selling food, drinks and handmade goods.

Children under 14 will also have the chance to be crowned Starbeck’s King, Queen, Prince or Princess.

There will also be performances from Harrogate Spa Town Ukes and Summerbell Dance Academy.

Eighty new covid cases in the Harrogate district

There have been a total of 80 new cases of covid in the district in the past 24 hours. It means there have been 13,206 cases of people testing positive for covid since the pandemic began.

According to the latest figures, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 10 patients for covid.

The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics. However, two people have recently died at the hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Those two deaths followed a four-month period at the hospital when it did not record any coronavirus deaths.

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The seven day average case rate (per 100,000 population) in the Harrogate district is 300.9.  That is now below the North Yorkshire average of 307.4.

Selby has the highest seven day rate in North Yorkshire 359.7.

 

 

 

 

 

Harrogate Thalidomide campaigner takes on key charity role

A well known Thalidomide campaigner has taken a key position with a Harrogate disability charity.

Guy Tweedy from Harrogate, who worked tirelessly for more than two decades championing the cause people affected by Thalidomide, has become a Trustee of Disability Action Yorkshire.

Mr Tweedy helped secure tens-of-millions-of-pounds in additional government support for survivors of the morning sickness drug.

Founded 84 years ago, Disability Action Yorkshire has its headquarters and training centre on Hornbeam Park, a residential care home on Claro Road, and a holiday lodge in Lincolnshire.

The charity’s vision is to empower disabled people to live the lifestyle of their choice, through its training, preparation and other living skills.  It celebrates and promotes diversity at every level of its organisation.

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Mr Tweedy, who was born with shortened arms and fingers fused together, said:

“Being disabled myself, I am fully aware of the challenges and inequalities disabled people face, in particular when it comes to employment opportunities.

“When I left school, I wrote to more than 1,000 potential employers – and I still have the rejection letters!

“It’s a privilege to have joined Disability Action Yorkshire as a Trustee, and I’m looking forward to playing my part within this well-respected organisation.”

Neil Revely, Disability Action Yorkshire Chair, said.

“We are delighted to have Guy Tweedy join our Board of Trustees. He is a seasoned campaigner and is well-known for his unstinting efforts fighting the Thalidomide corner.

“For 83 years, this organisation has been at the forefront of supporting disabled people, and I’m very proud of the work we have achieved throughout the decades.

“However, there is still plenty to be done, and Guy’s experiences will be invaluable as we take the organisation to the next stage and beyond.”