The Scottish Government has announced that a number of Local Authority areas in Scotland will move into ‘Level Four’ Covid-19 restrictions from 6pm on Friday 20th November until at least Friday 11th December. The areas moving into Level Four are listed at the bottom...
Brian O'Neill
First Home Fund finishing up early for 2020/21
The Scottish Government's administrators of the First Home Fund have announced the £200 million allocation for 2020/21 is almost spent, with final applications being accepted until 6pm on Friday 2nd October for property purchases due to complete before 31st March...
Blog – what do I need to do about the estate of a family member after a bereavement?
What do I need to do after someone has died? When a close family member dies, it can be an incredibly stressful time. There are some immediate needs to be taken care of – the funeral, for one. Then you have to inform people of the arrangements and deal with the...
Which is the right type of mortgage for me?
Which is the right type of mortgage for me? Whilst there are a wide variety of mortgages generally available, they tend to fall into three categories – Variable Rate, Interest Only and Fixed Rate. In this article, we’ll take a brief look at each type. (This is an...
Blog – Why NOW is the time to sell a property
If you’re thinking of selling your property, now is most definitely the time to be discussing this with our Estate Agency team. At Wallace Quinn we offer a full estate agency and conveyancing service, meaning we offer clients a one-stop shop for every step of the...
Podcast Five – What is conveyancing?
In our latest podcast, we go back to conveyancing basics with solicitors Mark McBride and John Quinn. We'll find out exactly what you are buying, from the bricks and mortar in the property to the airspace above. We'll find out why the Land Registry is so important...
Home buyers could save over £2000 in tax with temporary LBTT changes
The starting threshold for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax ( LBTT) on residential property sales in Scotland is rising from £145,000 to £250,000 from 15 July 2020 until 31 March 2021. This amounts to over £2000 in savings on a property bought for £250,000 and...
Further Guidance Issued on 29 June Property Market Restriction Easing
The Scottish Government announced last week that moving home would be permissible from 29th June 2020. It has now issued further guidance on what that means in practice for Scotland’s property market. The overarching guidance remains unchanged in that whenever...
Property Market Restart Begins To Gather Momentum
The Scottish Government’s review of the lockdown restrictions (Thu 18) has delivered some good news for property buyers: Construction will restart on new-build properties from Monday 22nd June. There will be a relaxation of the restrictions on moving house from Monday...
Capital Gains Tax Changes for 2020
Capital Gains Tax changes for 2020 came into effect on 6 April. This could have an impact on the amount owed to HMRC following the sale or gift of a property. Three principle changes to the legislation centre around CGT liability, lettings relief and principle...
PODCAST 4 – PROPERTY AUCTIONS AND TELEVISION SHOWS
TV Property Shows - what you need to know before going to a property auction. In this podcast, we find out why property shows on television are perhaps giving an unrealistic idea of what goes on in the conveyancing process and why buying a property at auction has some...
More encouraging news for Scotland’s Home Buyers
This week’s announcement from the Scottish Government that the Scottish Construction Industry can immediately restart sites with appropriate safety measures is hugely welcome, as are the tentative steps towards further easing of the lockdown restrictions. Construction...
Want to release cash locked up in the value of your property? Check our our equity release podcast
If you are over 55 and own your own home, you could unlock some of the cash value of the property through equity release - and use the money on whatever you want. In this podcast we answer some of the most common questions with Wallace Quinn solicitor John Quinn and...
What is a Power of Attorney and why you absolutely need one – Podcast 2
If you were incapacitated, who would you trust with your life? Who would you trust with your money? How would you empower them to make decisions that your bank or your doctor would allow? In this podcast we answer common questions about at a legal document called a...
Podcast – Why you need a Will
Welcome to our new Wallace Quinn Podcast! In episode one, we're looking at Wills with Wallace Quinn solicitors John Quinn and James Reid. You need a Will. Regardless of your age or circumstances. A Will gives you a voice and a say in what happens to your assets...
Buying and Selling Property during the Coronavirus Crisis
The Scottish Government has released advice for anybody looking to buy or sell property during the coronavirus crisis. The key message is that the conveyancing market remains open and property sales are possible but complicated by coronavirus. This is a fast moving,...
Coronavirus and the Land Registry of Scotland
The property sales market came to a screeching halt on Tuesday with law firms all over Scotland unable to complete, or ‘settle’, transactions when the Land Registry was closed by the Registers of Scotland (RoS), their offices shut and staff sent home. The Land...
Powers of Attorney and the Coronavirus
We’ve had a few conveyancing clients asking what are their options if they are unable to sign documents or access money if they are in bed with the Coronavirus. The situation is potentially so extreme and so unprecedented, that there will undoubtedly have to be a...