London's new garden squares
London is already the greenest capital in Europe, with homeowners enjoying more than 600 garden squares. And the good news is that there are more to come.
As the BBC move out, Shepherd's Bush switches to a new programme
As Aunty leaves the Bush the borough seizes the opportunity to create a proper neighbourhood.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Revealed: from Reading to Redhill – the top 20 commuter stations
Choose your route. Our exclusive property buyers’ guide shows travel times, costs and house prices.
My design London - Russell Norman
Owner of Polpo, Spuntino and Polpetto restaurants in Soho, and da Polpo and Mishkin's in Covent Garden, restauranteur Russell Norman opens up on his favourite London haunts.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Camden Town
This two-bedroom flat has a pretty park on its doorstep, while buzzing Camden Town is only 10 minutes’ walk away. Big sash windows and high ceilings give a spacious feel and there’s a private garden with a studio/home office (£525,000).
Swap of the week: Willersey, Glouc
This little Cotswolds beauty is just across the road from the village green and duck pond. For £530,000 you get beams, exposed stone walls and an open fireplace, plus four bedrooms, a useful attic room and lush gardens to enjoy.
Life-changer: Trescowe, Cornwall
For a project brimming with potential, what about this coastal home, yours for £545,000? The family space includes six bedrooms, while its collection of outbuildings overlooking an acre of gardens could become income-generating holiday lets.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Property search
Britons are still bullish about Spain
It seems nothing can make British buyers fall out of love with the home of tapas, paella and sangria, says Cathy Hawker
With reliably warm summer weather and a long coastline, Spain remains the first choice for Britons seeking a home abroad
The quiet villages of southern Spain, such as Arcos de la Frontera, are top of British buyers' wish lists
Arcos de la Frontera, in Andalusia, is typical of the enchanting mountain villages, that British property buyers love to "discover"
Year-on-year house sales fell 32.6 per cent in 2008 and Spain's housing ministry reports that sales in the last quarter of 2008 were half of those in the boom years of 2005 and 2006.
Yet despite this turmoil, Spain remains the first choice for Britons seeking a home abroad, and the country can still make a very good case for a sale.
Spain is easy to reach on scheduled or budget airlines, it has reliably warm summer weather, a long coastline and second-home destinations are stuffed with excellent leisure facilities from lush golf courses to exquisite villages, where the laid back lifestyle leaves plenty of time for sampling the local paella, tapas and sangria.
£145,400: two-bedroom bungalows at Valle del Paralso, from CAM Bank Properties (0844 736 5644)
For cash-rich buyers, buying top-quality property in a downturn makes perfect economic sense and canny UK buyers can make up in negotiating power what they lose because of the exchange rate.
£684,000: large, three-bedroom villas at Puerto del Garo, El Portet. Call Moraira Dreams on 020 8920 5260
Financing a holiday home remains a concern for many buyers but 70 per cent mortgages are available, says Fiona Watts of International Private Finance (020 7484 4600; www.internationalprivatefinance.com).
"A Spanish mortgage lender will also carry out additional checks to confirm that the property is properly licensed, valued and has all the required planning permissions."
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