Looking back on 2024

by Craig Power

2024 has been quite a year for Village Financial Services. In March founding director David Wood retired leaving me to take over the reigns fully. David set the business up 35 years ago and I joined as a director 14 years ago, having initially started with the company in 2003. Being the sole director is both daunting and exciting and I am relishing the challenge and the rewards. David is still helping out a few hours a month with social media content, but this will cease in December after which our adviser Luke Spires will take over the responsibilities of writing content and developing social media further. Since Luke joined, he has gone from strength to strength, and I look forward to him developing his management and business skills in 2025 and beyond.

Our sponsorship of the Swings and Smiles golf day in May at Newbury and Crookham golf club was a great success. I attended the day sponsoring and hosted the “beat the pro” competition on the 9^th hole. Each successful competitor won a sleeve of balls and an entry in the cash draw. Village Financial Services also provided raffle and auction prizes such as a bottle of 1999 Dom Perignon champagne and a bottle of rare single cask Deanston Whisky. Whilst the weather gods did not smile on us, the money fairy certainly did as the funds raised doubled from £3,500 last year to £7,000 this year. My thanks go to David Wood who provided a huge amount of work in the background to source goods and services for the raffle, auction and prizes.

We continue to support two charities, Swings and Smiles based in Thatcham who provide support and play for children with a range of conditions and disabilities. They also provide sibling support and respite care. And No5 a charity in Reading that provide counselling services for young people. We certainly hope to be represented at both charities golf days in 2025.

From a business point of view the market has been fairly steady from the winter through to late summer, but there has been a marked increase in our business in October and November and this is a sentiment echoed by Village Properties director Charlie Higgs who reported a 30% increase in business in October when compared to last year. Zoopla reported house prices are up 1% on the same time last year after a period of a couple of years of stagnation, this despite a jittery November which saw prices fall due to the autumn budget. We are generally upbeat about the prospects for 2025, we know interest rates will drop, albeit at a slower rate than previously predicted. But MSN published a report from Savills Estate stating they expect house prices to rise by 4% in 2025 and by 25% by 2029. It is clear that there is some pent-up demand and should rates drop next year, more buyers will come to the table.

And finally, we say goodbye to our paraplanner Lisa Brown who is off to pastures new after 9 years with us. Lisa joined us a trainee and is now an experienced paraplanner. We wish her well for the future, and we look forward to welcoming and announcing her replacement very soon. 

It only remains for me to wish you a Merry Christmas and we look forward to speaking to some of you in 2025.