House prices reach record high of £245k in October 2020 says ONS
- ONS: House prices up £20k in a year as transactions DOUBLEDon April 21, 2021 at 11:27 am
House prices increased 8.6% in the year to February, marking the highest annual rate of growth since 2014, the ONS said.
- Home loan for LESS than 1%: Are we in for a mortgage price war?on April 21, 2021 at 8:58 am
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society launched a two-year discount variable mortgage at 0.99 per cent, while a raft of state-backed 95 per cent mortgages have gone live.
- Nationwide lets first-time buyers borrow 20% MORE – if they lock mortgage rate for five years on April 20, 2021 at 12:56 pm
The scheme, called ‘Helping Hand,’ will be launched on 26 April. Borrowers will need a deposit of at least 10 per cent, the minimum Nationwide requires across all its products.
- Could your mortgage holiday stop you getting a loan in future?on April 20, 2021 at 7:45 am
Some borrowers took mortgage holidays as a ‘nice to have’ – but now they face extra questions and increased scrutiny from lenders when applying for a new loan.
- Hope at last for thousands tangled in unfair equity release trapon April 19, 2021 at 2:27 pm
The UK’s largest equity release broker, Age Partnership, has pledged to look at all existing equity release loans to see whether borrowers can be switched to a better deal.
- Which lenders are offering Government-backed 5% deposit mortgages – and what are the rates and fees?on April 19, 2021 at 11:42 am
First-time buyers and home movers will be able to get Government-backed mortgages with deposits of just 5 per cent with five major banks and building societies from today.
- Average asking prices jump sharply to new all-time high of over £327kon April 19, 2021 at 8:27 am
The average asking price of homes up for sale across Britain jumped over 2 per cent in a month, with buyers flocking to snap up properties with outdoor space and work from home options.
- Third of homes now subject to three-plus offers: Here’s how to win a bidding waron April 17, 2021 at 6:40 am
Almost a third of buyers are paying over the asking price for their properties, as the current demand to move has resulted in competitive bidding wars. But how do you win one? We asked the experts.
- Hinckley & Rugby BS launches mortgage with a LESS THAN 1% rateon April 16, 2021 at 2:39 pm
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society will launch a new mortgage with an interest rate of 0.99% next week – but the criteria look set to be fairly strict and it’s not a fix.
- Regions drive 5.7% surge in house prices as Britain’s pandemic property boom continues on April 15, 2021 at 4:02 pm
House prices in Wales and the North West have led Britain’s pandemic property boom as homebuyers shunned cities in favour of more space.
- Newquay in Cornwall named hottest UK property marketon April 13, 2021 at 10:17 pm
The greatest excess of demand over supply in Newquay for a decade means almost two thirds of properties on estate agents’ books have sales agreed, property website Rightmove said.
- House price growth in Liverpool outpaces London by almost FIVE times since start of pandemicon April 12, 2021 at 11:15 am
House price growth in northern cities and towns is continuing to outpace southern locations including London, according to the latest Land Registry data.
- Mortgage prisoners: The homeowners paying up to 9% intereston April 12, 2021 at 8:26 am
More mortgage prisoners have told of the financial and personal hardships they have suffered, in a bid to drum up support for a potentially life-changing new law currently going through Parliament.
- South-facing gardens are hot property – but how much is one really worth?on April 9, 2021 at 6:45 am
A south-facing garden has long been a selling point for estate agents – and the pandemic has made them even more desirable. But how much does having one really add to the value of your home?
- Value of private property in Britain tops £6TRILLION for first timeon April 8, 2021 at 2:30 pm
On a net basis, the nation’s private property wealth reached the equivalent to £189,549 for the average UK property owner, the Equity Release Council said.
- House sales surged in March on back of extended stamp duty holidayon April 8, 2021 at 6:46 am
Half of property professionals reported an increase rather than a decrease in agreed sales during March, as the market responded positively to the extension of the stamp duty holiday.
- We’re in the middle of a home buying frenzy… but first-time buyers are being frozen outon April 7, 2021 at 9:00 am
A desire for better homes and the stamp duty holiday has sparked a buying frenzy – yet first-time buyers and those with small deposits have been frozen out by tight lending criteria and soaring prices.
- Homeowners paying over the odds for home insurance from their mortgage lenderon April 6, 2021 at 8:43 am
A significant number of homeowners could be overpaying for home insurance because they have bought a policy from their mortgage provider instead of shopping around.
- 18-year property cycle: Could house prices really boom for 5 years?on April 1, 2021 at 8:28 am
Against most sensible measures, house prices in the UK are too expensive, but there’s a theory that says they could keep going up from here before they crash.
- Will green mortgages encourage landlords to improve energy efficiency?on April 1, 2021 at 7:14 am
Landlords could get better mortgage deals if their properties are energy efficient, as lenders launch new green products to the market – but do they offer enough of a financial incentive?
- Could your home’s energy efficiency rating stop you getting a future mortgage?on March 31, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Those living in energy inefficient homes could soon find it harder to get a mortgage, after a Government report said it could start rating lenders on the energy efficiency of their portfolios
- House price growth slowed this month, Nationwide sayson March 31, 2021 at 10:16 am
Property price growth slowed slightly in the last month amid a ‘softening’ of demand ahead of the original end of the stamp duty holiday.
- City house prices rise in ‘urban revival’ as commuters head back to office on March 30, 2021 at 11:49 am
Prime postcodes in cities such as Winchester, Oxford and Bath have seen house prices rise this year – but the lure of the countryside is still strong according to Savills.
- Mortgage prisoners: Will a law change finally offer an escape?on March 30, 2021 at 7:38 am
A quarter of a million ‘mortgage prisoners’ have faced years of financial struggles after their banks went under in the 2008 crash. We spoke to three of them about how a new law change would help.
- What should I do if I’m struggling with a monthly mortgage payment?on March 30, 2021 at 7:31 am
Currently, 43% of homeowners are worried about making their monthly mortgage payments. We explain what to do if your income drops, and how to remortgage with defaults on your record.
- How do I check an old extension conforms to building regs?on March 30, 2021 at 6:25 am
We just received the homebuyer report on our new period home, which raised concerns about an old loft conversion and extension. How can we ensure it’s safe and what survey do we need?
- Mortgage approvals up 40% on long-term averageon March 29, 2021 at 12:23 pm
A total of 87,700 mortgages for new house purchases were approved in February, compared to an average of 63,500 over the past 10 years.
- Most popular spots for first-time buyers using the Lifetime Isa revealedon March 29, 2021 at 7:37 am
App-based provider Moneybox has paid out £94.5m in bonuses to first-time buyers in 2020-21 and those hoping to get onto the ladder, like 24-year-old Katie Mcleod, from Swindon.
- Record day for property sales and Rightmove traffic has surgedon March 27, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Home sales hit their highest daily level in a decade this week as the housing market boom continued apace – while visits to the Rightmove website smashed the all-time record twice over
- How to spot if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s property market: TiM podcaston March 27, 2021 at 9:23 am
How to take the temperature of your local property market, the best Isa investments of all time, green investing and whether cutting electric car grants was wise.
- Busiest property markets of 2020 revealed: Cambridgeshire town tops table as buyerson March 26, 2021 at 10:47 am
The busiest property markets of 2020 have been revealed, with small towns taking the top spots as buyers rushed out of cities.
- Jump in chain-free house listings: Owners sell up and rent to make themselves more attractive buyerson March 26, 2021 at 7:42 am
One in five properties listed on Rightmove are now chain-free, as movers sell up and rent to help them win bidding wars when it comes to finding their new home.
- Is your store closing? John Lewis reveals eight shops shutting for goodon March 25, 2021 at 9:18 am
John Lewis stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield and York will stay shut, as will four ‘At Home’ shops in Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester and Tunbridge Wells.
- Buyer’s vs seller’s markets: How to judge property near youon March 25, 2021 at 9:04 am
The extension of the stamp duty holiday has added further fuel to the fire of the property market, but while some areas are blowing hot others are cold.
- Third of owners will pay HIGHER mortgage rates to avoid lender scrutinyon March 24, 2021 at 9:47 pm
Mortgage borrowers hit hardest by the pandemic may find themselves paying out thousands more each year, because they believe the financial fallout has affected their ability to remortgage.
- ONS: House prices fell slightly in January 2021on March 24, 2021 at 11:34 am
House prices dropped for the first time in six months in January, according to official figures – but they could be set to increase again due to the stamp duty holiday extension and the easing of lockdown.
- Housing transactions leap by nearly a quarter in February in show of ‘remarkable resilience’ on March 24, 2021 at 11:25 am
Housing transactions jumped a quarter in February in what has been described as a show of ‘remarkable resilience’ in the market.
- Homes now cost 7 times salary on average, and women experience ‘gender home buying gap’on March 23, 2021 at 7:55 am
Property prices in England are now seven times the local salary on average, as house price inflation appears to be outgrowing wages. New analysis also shows a ‘gender gap’ in the affordability of homes.
- Demand for properties jump since Budget’s stamp duty extensionon March 23, 2021 at 7:37 am
Buyer demand was up 24% in the week that followed the Budget on 3 March, according to property portal Zoopla.
- The seven everyday habits that could harm your mortgage chanceson March 19, 2021 at 7:33 am
From sports betting to streaming subscriptions, we asked mortgage experts about spending habits that could raise mortgage lenders’ eyebrows – and how much of a risk they pose.
- The countries that saw the biggest house price rises in 2020on March 17, 2021 at 12:27 pm
We may have seen the price of the average home go up by around £15,000 last year in the UK – but this paled in comparison to other countries which saw astronomical rises of up to 30%.
- 5% deposit mortgages are back from Yorkshire Building Societyon March 16, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Yorkshire Building Society has become the first lender to bring mortgages with 5% deposits back to the market, potentially heralding a price war that could benefit first-time buyers.
- Burglary bounce predicted for 2021: Here are 14 ways to turn your home into a fortresson March 16, 2021 at 6:16 am
Britons are being urged to secure their homes against a potential surge of burglaries anticipated for when lockdown ends. We asked experts for tips on how to protect your home.
- House asking prices edge up in March amid ‘best sellers’ market in a decade’on March 15, 2021 at 4:50 pm
The average asking price for a home in the UK increased in the first two weeks of March, as the number of people enquiring about available properties broke the all-time record.
- Can we convince people to fix their mortgages for life?on March 12, 2021 at 10:56 am
Would you fix your mortgage until it ends or would you rather take the gamble that paying less now won’t be offset by higher rates in the future?
- Lockdown savers pay off big chunks of mortgages but others struggleon March 12, 2021 at 9:04 am
As the easing of lockdown apparoaches, Britain’s mortgage borrowers will re-emerge from their homes with differing circumstances.
- Renters are pouring back into cities ahead of lockdown easing. Should you move now for a cheap deal?on March 12, 2021 at 9:04 am
Demand for city centre living is on the rise again – and with rents having fallen in many areas during the pandemic, there may be cheap deals to be had for renters who get ahead of the game.
- Self-employed mortgage struggle for seven in 10on March 12, 2021 at 7:56 am
More than half of self-employed people said they felt penalised when applying for a home loan, while 96% said they had to provide more paperwork, a new survey shows.
- What has happened to mortgage and saving rates since the base rate cut?on March 11, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Bread and butter savings rates have fallen by seven tenths, but many mortgage borrowers have barely benefited since the Bank of England cut its base rate to an all-time low last year.
- Metro Bank launches mortgages for those with low credit scores, missed payments and repossessionson March 11, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Metro Bank has launched a new range of mortgages for borrowers with ‘adverse’ credit history who may struggle to get a home loan elsewhere – making it the only high street lender to offer this.
- Shed office: Six steps to take before taking the plungeon March 11, 2021 at 6:10 am
If you’re struggling to work at your kitchen table – and you have the luxury of a garden – it could be time to invest in a ‘shoffice’. Here’s everything you need to know about building a garden workspace.
- Rics: House prices rising but shortage of homes coming to marketon March 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
A shortfall in the number of homes coming up for sale remains a major stumbling block for the housing market, economists at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have warned.
- Habito launches new mortgage with a 40 year termon March 10, 2021 at 6:10 pm
A mortgage being touted as the UK’s ‘longest-ever’ fixed rate home loan will be launched next week. Habito One will allow home buyers to stay on the same rate for up to 40 years.
- What will happen to UK house prices in 2021: Savills predicts 4% growthon March 9, 2021 at 7:55 am
House prices could see five-figure increases this year, as forecasts are revised upwards thanks to the stamp duty holiday extension and vaccine roll-out success.
- Time is running out for landlords to run safety checks or face a £30k fineon March 9, 2021 at 7:33 am
All landlords need to have had electrical safety inspections carried out on their properties by 1 April this year, or risk being fined up to £30,000.
- Millions of items are lost, damaged or stolen during home moves: Here’s how to keep your stuff safeon March 8, 2021 at 8:31 am
Home movers have seen four million possessions lost, damaged or stolen during transit over the past 12 months, costing them £700 on average. Here’s how to make sure your stuff stays safe.
- Homebuyers breathe easily as stamp duty holiday extendedon March 7, 2021 at 8:57 am
The holiday will save thousands more buyers up to £15,000 in costs. First-time buyer Jessica Sena (pictured) saved £5,000. She exchanged contracts just hours after Rishi Sunak’s announcement.
- Should you care about the square footage of a UK home?on March 5, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Most Britons don’t know the size of their home in square feet, according to a new survey. But given that buyers now prize space above all else, has this become vital information?
- Stamp duty holiday extension: How likely are you to complete before June?on March 5, 2021 at 12:48 pm
Home buyers welcomed the stamp duty holiday extension in this week’s Budget – but over-stretched solicitors say many will still miss the new deadline and some are turning clients away.
- House prices dip but could surge again thanks to Budget’s stamp duty shot in the arm – Halifax on March 5, 2021 at 10:51 am
House prices in the UK edged downwards in February, but are predicted to hit record highs again after the stamp duty holiday was extended by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in this week’s Budget.
- How to keep your shed and ‘shoffice’ safe from crookson March 5, 2021 at 10:35 am
Since the start of 2018, there has been over 70,000 reported cases of such thefts, equating to about 64 a day, Churchill Home Insurance said in new findings.
- How will a government-backed 5% deposit mortgage work?on March 4, 2021 at 3:00 pm
The rumoured scheme will be welcomed by young home buyers, who have seen the availability of 5% deposit mortgages plummet since the start of the pandemic – how will it work?
- New 5% deposit mortgages: Which lenders will offer them and when can I get one? on March 3, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Rishi Sunak announced a plan to help home buyers get mortgages with deposits of just five per cent in today’s Budget. But which lenders will offer them and how soon can people apply?
- Stamp duty holiday extension calculatoron March 3, 2021 at 4:34 pm
After the stamp duty holiday was extended, our calculator hows how much tax you would pay to move home before the new 30 June 2021 deadline.
- Council tax postcode lottery: £150k home pays more than a £77m mansionon March 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm
One is a £77.5million eight-bedroom luxury mansion in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes. The other is a modest family home in County Durham on the market for £150,000.
- Home need a revamp? We explain how to fund it with a remortgageon March 1, 2021 at 8:50 am
A third of UK home renovators plan to fund their project with a remortgage, according to a new survey. But how do you go about getting equity out of your home? We explain how it works.
- Have our lodgers left us liable for capital gains tax now we want to sell?on March 1, 2021 at 8:50 am
This couple shared their home with three lodgers to help pay the mortgage. But now they want to sell, they could be landed with a capital gains tax bill. We asked three tax experts to explain the rules
- What survey should you choose when buying a home?on February 27, 2021 at 7:53 am
The last thing you want is to discover your beautiful new home is concealing nightmares behind every nook and cranny. But what type of survey should you choose? We explain the difference between them.
- The most and least affordable places for first-time buyers nowon February 27, 2021 at 7:50 am
Within London, the notoriously expensive borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the least affordable place in the capital to live, when taking into account factors like house prices and wages.
- 10 tips to boost your credit score and avoid mortgage rejectionon February 25, 2021 at 6:36 pm
Some 22 per cent of home buyers blame bad credit for having their property purchase thwarted. Experian’s John Webb and the Mortgage Advice Bureau’s Brian Murphy explain how to fix it
- 234k extra buyers could benefit from stamp duty holiday extensionon February 25, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Around 750,000 buyers in England are set to benefit from the stamp duty holiday since it was launched last year, saving them but costing the Treasury nearly £5billion, according to the findings.
- Could I buy in time to benefit from a stamp duty holiday extension?on February 25, 2021 at 10:11 am
We had been working on the basis that there was no way we would benefit from the stamp duty holiday, but I have now read that it could be extended for three months.
- Housing transactions drop for first time since April as stamp duty holiday nears endon February 23, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Property transactions in the UK took a tumble in January for the first time in nine months according to HMRC data, in the latest sign the pandemic-fuelled market boom is coming to an end.
- Help with the rental deposit: How these alternative companies workon February 23, 2021 at 8:58 am
Young renters have been hit financially by the pandemic. With hefty deposits often a barrier to moving, companies are now offering to secure their tenancies for them – in exchange for a fee.
- Cohabiting couple? Don’t buy a home together until you have asked these six key questionson February 22, 2021 at 11:07 am
The number of cohabiting couples submitting joint mortgage applications rose by 60 per cent in 2020. We explain what you need to ask each other before taking the plunge
- Is it ever wise to take an interest-only mortgage?on February 22, 2021 at 7:59 am
Interest-only mortgages have become something of a taboo ever since the 2008 crash. But could they be a short-term fix for homeowners hit financially by Covid, or is taking one out too much of a risk?
- Would you haggle on a house price? We reveal the do’s and don’ts of negotiatingon February 18, 2021 at 11:30 am
Britons are at risk of paying over the odds on their house purchases, with 30 per cent of homeowners failing to negotiate on their current property. We explain how to do it successfully
- Best 10% deposit mortgages: What are the top rates for first-time buyers?on February 18, 2021 at 8:25 am
Lenders have launched 117 new 10% deposit mortgages since the beginning of the year – but first-time buyers still have far fewer options than they did pre-pandemic.
- House prices jumped £20k in 2020, ONS / Land Registry revealson February 17, 2021 at 5:10 pm
House prices rose 8.5% to a record high of £252,000, aided by lockdown buyers looking for bigger homes and the stamp duty holiday launched in July, the ONS revealed.
- Is the property market hanging by a thread as the stamp duty holiday ends?on February 17, 2021 at 9:43 am
Almost two-thirds of buyers nationwide, representing sales worth £1.5bn, are in a chain where someone is dependent on completion before the deadline of March 31.
- Stamp duty holiday extension: How likely is it?on February 16, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Extending the stamp duty holiday by six weeks – a move chancellor Rishi Sunak is said to be considering – would save home buyers in England a further £1bn, according to new predictions.
- Renovating in lockdown? Here’s how to add most value to your homeon February 16, 2021 at 8:25 am
Housebound UK homeowners are on a quest to perfect their homes, as Britons spent hundreds more on renovations in 2020.
- Online property auctions: Tips for bidding on a homeon February 16, 2021 at 8:22 am
Covid has put paid to traditional auctions – so for the last year, budding buyers have been going online in search of a property bargain instead.
- Stamp duty holiday saves homebuyers a collective £5bn on February 15, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Around 750,000 people are set to benefit from the Government’s stamp duty holiday – saving nearly £5bn in tax. Property portal Zoopla said this would have been a record taking for the Treasury.
- Average property asking prices creep up again, Rightmove sayson February 15, 2021 at 8:20 am
According to Rightmove’s latest figures, average asking prices swelled by £1,522, or 0.5 per cent, to £318,580 in the past month.
- Fifth of Britain’s wealthiest people are TURNED DOWN for a mortgage by their bankon February 11, 2021 at 10:18 am
Being accepted for a mortgage is a common worry among home buyers – but even some of the UK’s wealthiest people have been turned down by their bank, it has emerged.
- House sales fall as prices rise everywhere but Londonon February 11, 2021 at 7:30 am
Despite remaining open throughout the latest lockdown, the property market has started off 2021 on a ‘weaker footing’, with sales, listings and interest from prospective buyers dwindling.
- New homes body says it will champion buyers with new-build gripeson February 9, 2021 at 9:25 am
Those who have a gripe with their new-build home will soon have a new way to raise a complaint, after a new independent body launched to champion buyers’ interests.
- More than 6,000 first-time buyers spent £1m on their home last year on February 9, 2021 at 9:10 am
The proportion of first-time buyers spending more than £1million on their homes has doubled in the past year, as two per cent spent seven figures to get on the property ladder.
- It’s a tough time to be a first-time buyer – but these expert tips could help you on the way on February 6, 2021 at 8:33 am
Getting on the property ladder is an aspiration shared by millions of people across the UK, but prices increased 6.4 per cent in the last year according to Nationwide.
- Buying a home with potential to extend? Permitted development and planning permission explainedon February 4, 2021 at 11:08 am
Property listings on the online portals often carry the bullet point, ‘potential to extend subject to planning permission (STPP)’. And estate agents love to talk about ‘potential’.
- More than 300,000 property sales fell through last year – here’s how to get yours back on trackon February 4, 2021 at 11:07 am
A total of 306,198 property transactions fell through last year, representing a 12.26 per cent rise from 2019. We asked the experts what to do if your deal is in danger of being derailed.
- Searching for a home online? Use these tech trickson February 3, 2021 at 2:02 pm
With thousands of homes at your fingertips, searching on Rightmove of Zoopla can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. We reveal little-known tech tricks to help you beat the competition.
- Halifax: House prices hit record high in December but boom slowson February 3, 2021 at 1:06 pm
The mini-boom that arrived after the property freeze at the start of lockdown led house prices to climb 6 per cent last year, according to the Halifax index.
- MPs argue for extension to stamp duty holiday – but anxious buyers get no update from Governmenton February 2, 2021 at 9:30 am
MPs have argued for the extension of the stamp duty holiday, to allow people who are already in the process of buying a home to benefit from tax savings of up to £15,000.
- New mortgage approvals hit a high not seen since financial crisis in 2020on February 1, 2021 at 2:26 pm
Mortgage approvals for house purchases hit their highest level since the financial crisis last year, as the stamp duty holiday and socialising restrictions kept buyers engaged with their search for a new home.
- London mayoral candidate says revive Thatcher right-to-buy dreamon January 31, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Bailey is very much ‘new wave’ Conservative. Born in Ladbroke Grove, West London, to British Jamaican parents, he and his brother were brought up by their mother Carmen in a council house.
- Home buying bottleneck means transactions taking longer to completeon January 29, 2021 at 7:48 am
The average property is taking nearly a month longer to sell once under offer, due to a bottleneck that has developed since the property market shutdown in March and April.
- How long do offers last, and what if I have bad credit? We answer the most-asked mortgage questionson January 28, 2021 at 10:54 am
Britain’s most commonly asked mortgage questions have been revealed following analysis by Comparethemarket.com. We went to three mortgage experts to find the answers.
- With just over two months remaining, how can home buyers beat the stamp duty deadline?on January 28, 2021 at 7:36 am
With the stamp duty holiday set to end on 31 March, some home buyers are pushing to complete purchases in order to save up to £15,000 in tax. We asked three property experts for their tips.
- New listings fall amid lockdown but price growth hits four year highon January 27, 2021 at 11:25 am
The average price for a UK home rose 4.3 per cent to £223,700 in the year to December, the highest since April 2017, according to property portal Zoopla.
- Should I pick a two or five year fixed-rate mortgage?on January 26, 2021 at 3:45 pm
The difference in interest rates between two and five-year fixed mortgages – also known as the ‘rate gap’ – is the smallest it has been since 2013 at just 0.27% according to new figures.
- One in four homeowners on highest mortgage rate – and some wrongly think it helps pay it off quickeron January 25, 2021 at 1:51 pm
Research by online broker Habito found that 27% of people were on a standard variable rate – lenders’ ‘default’ rate which buyers drop on to when the initial term of their mortgage deal ends.
- Will 2021 end the first-time buyer squeeze that sent deposits to £57k?on January 25, 2021 at 12:04 pm
The lockdown property market mini-boom that sent house prices climbing spelt bad news for first-time buyers last year, but things are potentially improving.
- How to become a property guardian and save on your renton January 22, 2021 at 9:41 pm
This is Money takes a look at what being a property guardian involves, how much you could potentially save and how the pandemic has affected the industry.
- Lenders start to reduce rates for 10% deposit mortgages – but will they continue to head lower? on January 22, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Metro Bank, Nationwide and Barclays have all dropped the interest rates on their 10 per cent deposit mortgages, which are popular with first-time buyers – but rates are still higher than pre-pandemic
- New mortgage lender claims it will let you lock in your interest rate for THIRTY yearson January 22, 2021 at 8:03 am
Perenna, which is hoping to launch this summer, says it will allow borrowers to fix the rate of interest on their mortgage for up to 30 years – meaning that they would not need to constantly remortgage.
- The cities where first-time buyers save deposits fastest – and two where it takes 25 YEARSon January 22, 2021 at 8:02 am
First-time buyers in Vaduz, Bern and Copenhagen can save up for a house the fastest, according to a new report – while those hoping to get on the ladder elsewhere could have to wait a whopping 25 years.
- Top 15 best places to live in England Wales nowon January 22, 2021 at 7:49 am
Bath in Somerset, Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, Ilfracombe in Devon and Canterbury in Kent made up the top five of the most sought-after locations.
- Property sales in December up over 30% on 2019 levelson January 21, 2021 at 1:12 pm
On a provisional seasonally adjusted basis, there were 129,400 residential sales completed in December, which is 13 per cent more than in November 2020, HMRC said today.
- Home repossessions set to surge after support schemes endon January 20, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Thousands of borrowers have struggled to pay the mortgage in the virus crisis – with close two million taking a break from repayments. Last year 2,900 properties were repossessed by lenders.
- House prices in the UK reach record high of £250k on averageon January 20, 2021 at 3:11 pm
The average cost of a home increased by 7.6 per cent over the period, up from a 5.9 per cent rise in the year to October, fresh figures from the ONS has revealed today.
- Pandemic pushes older home owners into thinking about downsizing sooneron January 20, 2021 at 9:34 am
A survey of homeowners aged 55 and over, by retirement home builder Audley Group, found 34 per cent want to move to a better area and 29 per cent want to be closer to family and friends.
- How to save your house sale from the stamp duty cliff edgeon January 19, 2021 at 9:50 pm
The stamp duty holiday’s days are numbered. Rishi Sunak is said to have ruled out an extension to the tax break that ignited the housing market in the pandemic and saved buyers more than £3bn.
- Average first-time buyer must save more than a YEAR’S salary for a deposit on a homeon January 19, 2021 at 8:55 am
Nationwide found that London first-time buyers will save for an average of 16 years, but in Scotland and the North East it is less than six – and more have been taking help from family and friends.
- Hope for home buyers? Petition forces parliament to debate six-month extension to stamp duty holidayon January 18, 2021 at 1:05 pm
The Government must debate whether the tax break, which can save buyers up to £15,000, will be extended to the end of September after a petition gained more than 100,000 signatures.
- Rightmove warns 100,000 buyers on track for unexpected stamp duty billon January 18, 2021 at 11:17 am
Average asking prices started to drop in the past month and there are now well over 600,000 homes caught up in a completion log-jam ahead of the stamp duty holiday ending on 31 March.
- Santander joins mortgage lenders turning off the tap for self-employed with new 40% deposit ruleon January 15, 2021 at 7:51 am
Santander has excluded self-employed home buyers from its lower-deposit mortgage deals, meaning that new borrowers will now need a deposit of at least 40%.
- Deposits are falling, rates rising and prices uncertain. Should I buy my first home during Covid?on January 14, 2021 at 10:31 am
The return of low-deposit mortgages means it is once again possible to get on the ladder – but there is a chance mortgage rates and house prices may fall in 2021. Should first-time buyers move now or wait?
- House prices set to fall ‘significantly’ in the coming monthson January 14, 2021 at 9:10 am
Last month, property prices, sales and buyer demand all increased, but at a slower pace than seen in previous months, the Rics said in its latest closely-watched survey.
- As the cladding crisis rages, scandal of the homeowners shut out of £1bn support fundon January 13, 2021 at 9:54 am
Nathan Prescott from Manchester found out his building would not qualify for support for the replacement of its dangerous cladding because vital repairs had already begun.
- Can an architect and builder visit my house in lockdown?on January 11, 2021 at 8:38 am
We moved home last summer into a house that needs totally refurbishing and extending. Can we still do this in the new lockdown, as architects and builders would need to visit our home?
- Hopes for homebuyers as stamp duty date loomson January 10, 2021 at 9:43 am
Property experts are pushing for a ‘fairer’ phasing out of the end of March deadline, rather than a brutal cut-off date. Those who are already in the middle of a purchase would still benefit.
- HSBC brings back 10 per cent deposit mortgages, joining raft of other lenderson January 8, 2021 at 7:46 am
HSBC says it will resume offering 90% loan-to-value products from next week, following competitors such as Halifax and NatWest. It has not revealed what the rates will be.
- Remortgaging could save homeowners £169 a month – but most aren’t considering iton January 7, 2021 at 12:23 pm
TSB finds that the average homeowner could save an average of £2,000 per year by switching their deal – but that the majority of people are not considering remortgaging.
- Coventry Building Society brings back 10% mortgages, in boost for buyers seeking low-deposit dealson January 6, 2021 at 3:22 pm
The UK’s second-largest building society is reinstating 90% loan-to-value mortgages, frequently used by first-time buyers, after pulling its previous products due to Covid.
- Stamp duty holiday could be extended beyond Marchon January 5, 2021 at 6:16 pm
There are increasing calls for the tax break to be extended – both to allow for delays in the system caused by lockdown, and to galvanise the property market if the restrictions prove to be a dampener
- Selling your house in 2021? Here’s what you need to do to get the best priceon January 5, 2021 at 3:27 pm
Plenty of people will be looking to take advantage of the house price boom and sell up this year. From gorgeous gardens to video viewings, here’s how to get ahead of the competition.
- How can I choose an estate agent and how much should I pay?on January 4, 2021 at 1:27 pm
The fees vary a bit, can we negotiate on them and what is the best way to do this? Is there a way to incentivise the agent to get us the best price?
- It will be easier to get a 10% deposit mortgage in 2021, say experts – and rates could drop tooon January 4, 2021 at 8:04 am
Aspiring homeowners with low deposits had a torrid year in 2020 with deals vanishing and rates rising, but there are signs for optimism in 2021.
- London home mover exodus hita four-year high in 2020on January 4, 2021 at 7:54 am
The average London leaver paid £372,860 for their new home according to Hamptons International, and popular locations included Sevenoaks in Kent and Spelthorne in Surrey.
- How much did house prices really go up in 2020 – and what will happen in 2021?on December 31, 2020 at 8:33 am
Predictions about what the pandemic would do to property values were time and again proved wrong. The final property price indexes show a substantial increase across 2020 as a whole.
- Number of people searching for new homes online nearly DOUBLED this Christmason December 30, 2020 at 9:00 am
Rightmove had its busiest ever Boxing Day for visits, which jumped 54 per cent compared to 2019 – while Zoopla saw traffic on its website soar to 70.5 per cent more than pre-Christmas levels
- Where did property prices rise most in 2020 according to Halifax?on December 29, 2020 at 10:15 am
The news is potentially most welcome for would-be house sellers living in parts of London as well as Yorkshire, the West Midlands and northern Scotland – the areas with the biggest increases.
- Metro Bank sells off a third of its mortgage book to NatWeston December 21, 2020 at 3:24 pm
The bank has sold a third of its mortgages as it eyes a move into personal loans and credit card lending.
- Third of would-be buyers would ABANDON house move after stamp duty holiday endson December 19, 2020 at 8:44 am
Out of 1,000 people who were currently in the process of buying a home, 31% said they would not continue if they had not completed by 31 March.
- Borrowers looking for furlough-friendly mortgages skyrocket in Novemberon December 18, 2020 at 7:04 am
The number of UK workers looking for furlough-friendly mortgages skyrocketed during November following the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme last month.
- House prices reach record high of £245k in October 2020 says ONSon December 17, 2020 at 10:49 am
While the property market surge continues, it stands in contrast to the floundering wider economy.
- Best first-time buyer mortgages: NatWest relaunches a 90% LTVon December 17, 2020 at 9:35 am
The relaunched 10% deposit mortgages are based on two and five-year fixed rates, and will also be available to people who are moving house
- Mortgage lenders turn against self-employed workerson December 16, 2020 at 9:43 am
Banks are imposing stricter checks on anyone who works for themselves due to fears their finances could take a hit due to the pandemic. But brokers say viable borrowers are being frozen out of deals.
- Building society bosses plead Government to ‘taper’ stamp duty holiday on December 15, 2020 at 6:34 am
Building society chiefs have asked Government to extend the stamp duty holiday for those who accept a mortgage offer by 31 March by an extra three months.
- How do I take part in the Halifax mortgage prize draw?on December 14, 2020 at 11:49 am
The monthly draw, which relaunched in May, sees home loans up to the value of £300,000 paid off by one of Britain’s largest lenders.
- We are planning to sell our home but suspect Japanese knotweedon December 14, 2020 at 10:54 am
We are pretty sure that Japanese knotweed has encroached from our neighbour’s land. We know this can be a problem, but we can’t afford not to sell. Do we need to tell the estate agent or lawyers?
- Rightmove: House prices forecast to climb another 4% in 2021on December 14, 2020 at 8:32 am
Average asking prices rose by 6.6 per cent in the year to December to £319,945, although they declined slightly over the past month, Rightmove said.
- House price inflation shows the stamp duty holiday was a false economyon December 13, 2020 at 10:34 am
The stamp duty holiday has been a handy lesson in how inflation works, but has it been a total failure? A better move would be a cut that lasts.
- First-time buyer 90% mortgages are reserved for ‘gold-plated’ borrowers, warn mortgage brokerson December 11, 2020 at 7:34 am
Aspiring homeowners hoping to buy their first property with a 10 per cent deposit face limited choice and higher costs than they did a year ago.
- ‘Considerable concern’ over prospect of sharp drop in house saleson December 10, 2020 at 12:01 am
Average property prices continued to rise ‘sharply’ in most parts of the country last month, but buyer demand is showing some signs of losing steam as the year draws to a close.
- Nationwide mortgage holiday mix-up left our home move at riskon December 8, 2020 at 12:11 pm
The Allcrofts asked to extend their mortgage holiday in summer, but did not realise that Nationwide had set it up as two separate stints.
- Halifax: House prices up £15k since June outweighing stamp duty savingon December 7, 2020 at 1:40 pm
Its latest monthly house price index – which is based on mortgage approvals rather than actual sales prices – shows the price of an average UK home jumped 1.2 per cent in November to £253,243.
- Best mortgage rates: Compare fixed rate and tracker rate mortgage dealson October 14, 2020 at 10:34 am
The average two-year fix increased by 0.14 per cent this month to 2.38 per cent- while the equivalent five-year fixed rate increased by 0.13 per cent, according to finance experts Moneyfacts.