Harp government housing program

THE Lifetime Isa (Lisa) is a savings product which is designed to help people save for a first home or retirement with a bonus of up to £32,000 from the government. Here's everything you need to know about Lisas, including how to get one, how to find the best deal and how to get the government top up. What is a Lifetime ISA? The Lisa is a tax-free savings product, which the government launched to help people get on the property ladder or save for retirement. Like with other forms of Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) the Lisa comes in two forms, cash Lisas and stocks and shares ISAs. Brits between the age of 18 and 39 can open a Lisa, but once you have one you can keep saving until you are 50 years old.You can save up to £4,000 a year and the government will then add a 25 per cent bonus on top, effectively giving you free money. For example, if you save £1,000 a year, the government will add in £250, and if you save the full £4,000 you'll get an extra … [Read more...] about Best Lifetime Isa LISA providers – how to get £32,000 towards buying a house or retirement

Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, consistently ranks among the world's 10 least affordable for housing in the annual Demographia International report. All three major cities in the country — Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, the capital — are categorized as "severely unaffordable." As a result, smaller towns are seeing an influx of people who are relocating in the hopes of finding cheaper housing solutions, only to discover that the new demands have also caused real estate prices to rise in smaller towns. In Tauranga, a small northern coastal town with a population of 128,000, average property values have increased from NZ$304,000 (€176,000) to NZ$497,000 (€288,000) in the last five years. The Demographia report now ranks Tauranga among the least 10 affordable cities in the world along with Hong Kong, San Francisco and Vancouver. Read more: New Zealand PM slams book sales of Christchurch shooter's 'manifesto' Asian 'stereotypes' prevail … [Read more...] about Asian communities become scapegoats in New Zealand’s housing crisis

A local council is forking out $400,000 for restrooms at an Instagram-famous landmark, but locals think they're flushing money down the toilet.   Perth's Blue Boat House in Crawley attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but the nearest loo is over 2.5 kilometers away.   The City of Perth have been given the go ahead for a swanky new solar powered toilet block to be built on Mounts Bay Road between the boat shed and Swan Brewery in Crawley.  Perth's Blue Boat House in Crawley attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but the nearest loo is over 2.5 kilometers away Part of the reason for the hefty price tag is because of the location, as the toilet block will have no access to power, water and sewerage Angry locals have taken to Facebook to brand the new toilet block a complete waste of money.  '$400,000 on a toilet !!!! You can build 2 fking houses that's the state of the economy,' one person wrote  Perth's Blue Boat house … [Read more...] about Flushed with cash: Council installs $400,000 toilet for Instagrammers taking pictures of Perth’s famous Blue Boat House

The government has unveiled its £100m strategy to tackle rough sleeping on England's streets. It wants to "help people turn their lives around", including support for mental health and addictions. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire vowed to make homelessness "a thing of the past" and the government has vowed to end rough sleeping by 2027.But Labour says the plan is already "unravelling" as it's become clear no new money is being invested.Homelessness has been on the rise for the past seven years, with around 4,750 people estimated to be sleeping rough on any given night in England in 2017. Charities have welcomed the plan, but warned that it was "a step forward and not a total fix". Rough sleeping rises for seventh year UK 'could end homelessness in a decade' Homeless in the snow: 'I hope I wake up' The Rough Sleeping Strategy will focus on preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place by offering a range of support. Sorry, your browser cannot display this … [Read more...] about Rough sleeping: £100m government plan to tackle homelessness unveiled

A trio of Republican senators is stepping up demands for new information about what they say were Ukrainian embassy efforts to 'undermine' the Trump campaign in 2016 – just as House Democrats act on impeachment articles. The senators, Donald Trump loyalists Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Charles Grassley of Iowa, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, are demanding interview transcripts that they believe will show Ukraine acting in concert with Hillary Clinton's campaign. The effect of the probe could be to muddy charges of Ukrainian election interference when the Senate begins its likely impeachment trial next year – and there are already fresh signs the senators are gaining access to information. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and two GOP colleagues are seeking information on Ukrainian efforts to 'undermine' the Trump campaign in 2016 The Democratic push in the House is based heavily on President Trump and his allies' efforts to get the Ukrainian government to investigate … [Read more...] about Republican Senators step up their OWN Ukraine probe – demanding government information on Democratic consultant Alexandra Chalupa and Hunter Biden even as House moves ahead on impeachment articles