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Over 5% of total mortgage lending in 2005 was probably "adverse credit" lending to people with previous credit problems, making it the largest specialist sector after buy-to-let, according to new data published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. - [Read more]

Mortgage advisers are providing a much needed lifeline to nearly three-quarters of landlords (74%) who seek advice in the buy to let mortgage market, according to research undertaken by BDRC for Alliance & Leicester Mortgages. - [Read more]

With a myriad of mortgage loans available - each with their different sets of charges - many borrowers remain blissfully unaware about how the interest on their loan is calculated. - [Read more]

Latest data from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) shows the average price of a home in the UK nearing £200,000. Indeed, the mix-adjusted average price stood at £199,467 in November, up from £197,987 in October (not seasonally adjusted). - [Read more]

New Halifax research shows that the average house price paid by a first time buyer (FTB) pushed through the £150,000 barrier for the first time in 2006 - increasing by 11% to £151,565 from £137,122 in 2005. - [Read more]

Thanks to rocketing UK property prices, cheaper flights and a healthier, more adventurous retired population. Around 5.5m Britons now live overseas, with around 300,000 actually purchasing a property abroad. - [Read more]

Bank of Ireland Mortgages has moved into the Professional Buy to Let (BTL) mortgage market, offering a new product available to experienced landlords - [Read more]

Applying to have your house put into a different council tax band has become something of a national sport, since a television programme suggested that thousands of homes could be in the wrong band, and windfall refunds going back more than 10 years could await anyone who appealed. But anyone who embarks on such an appeal could find themselves losing thousands of pounds. Not only because they could be uprated rather than downrated, but, more importantly, the result of an appeal could affect the resale value of their home. - [Read more]

The Bank of England's interest rate setting committee has surprised markets by opting to raise base rate to by 0.25% to 5.25%. - [Read more]

The Bank of England's interest rate setting committee has opted to keep base rate on hold at 5.25% - this after January's 0.25% increase in what was the third rate hike in 6 months. - [Read more]

Despite last year's two base rate rises, Brits appear committed to chasing house prices higher AND to going deeper into debt while doing so. - [Read more]

Carbon emissions from homes are as much of a blow to the environment as stamp duty is to a homebuyer's bank account. But, in his 11th budget speech delivered to the House of Commons today, Gordon Brown said in six months time, they will start to cancel each other out. - [Read more]

Would-be first-time buyers were left up the creek without a paddle again in this year's budget as Gordon Brown failed to raise the minimum stamp duty threshold of £120,000. Instead, stamp duty exemptions have been confined to an arguably negligible number of people who will buy new-build zero-carbon homes from October this year. - [Read more]

It surely can't be 10 years since Gordon 'Uncle Joe' Brown delivered his first Budget can it? Well as they say - a week is long time in politics. But the last 10 years have been inexorably long for many. - [Read more]

Bulgaria however has emerged as one of the main countries for foreign property investment with as many Brits looking to buy there as in the United States. - [Read more]

Residential property investors remained active throughout 2006, benefiting from an uplift in capital values, stable rental yields and a consistently positive economic backdrop, according to specialist lender, Paragon. - [Read more]

According to new research from Alliance & Leicester Mortgages, confidence in the buy-to-let market is high with 29% of those polled saying they'll remain in the market indefinitely. - [Read more]

Investor landlord activity continues to grow, according to Alliance & Leicester Mortgages - the mortgage bank noting that 70% of all buy-to-let applications it handled in December were for mortgage products under 75% LTV - [Read more]

Vantis, the accountancy, tax and business advisory group, is urging buy to let mortgage holders to ensure dialogue with lenders is started early if they are struggling to meet monthly payments as repossessions reach record levels. - [Read more]

At this time of year, with grey skies and frosty nights, Britons can be forgiven for dreaming of a move to more exotic climes. In fact, we are now flocking to the sunshine in droves, thanks to rocketing UK property prices, cheaper flights and a healthier, more adventurous retired population. Around 5.5m Britons now live overseas, with around 300,000 actually purchasing a property abroad. - [Read more]