In the news this morning, a hint of buoyancy in the housing market as August data reveal the largest rise in prices so far this year. That could be because of a shortage of properties, but strong employment growth may also be playing its part. Bovis will build fewer homes. It is cutting targets as part of a strategic review, and now plans 4,000 homes a year, well below the 5,000-6,000 homes it had previously aimed to build. Onthemarket will use the £50m it is looking to raise from a listing to expand and restructure its business.
UK house price growth surprises in August (The Independent/FREE)
UK house price growth in August was the highest so far this year, at 1.1%, improving on the previous month’s 0.7% rise, figures from lender Halifax showed.
Bovis cuts targets for new homes to 4,000 a year (The Times/£)
Bovis Homes will sharply reduce targets for the number of homes it builds, with new chief executive Greg Fitzgerald saying the company would now aim for 4,000 homes a year by 2019, down from 5,000-6,000.
Onthemarket aims to raise £50m via AIM listing (The Times/£)
Some 89% of Onthemarket’s members have voted in favour of the property portal floating on London’s AIM.
Zoopla parent buys Money.co.uk (The Telegraph/FREE)
Zoopla’s parent company, ZPG, is acquiring financial services comparison website Money.co.uk in a potential £140m deal.
Shaftesbury looks to update London’s Chinatown (FT/£)
London’s Chinatown is stuck in a bit of a time warp, says landlord Shaftesbury.
Amazon launches search for HQ2 (The Guardian/FREE)
Amazon has launched a search for a second North American headquarters, to be the full equal of its offices in Seattle.
