What should I do if I’m struggling with a monthly mortgage payment?

Missing a mortgage payment is something most homeowners would never dream of doing but often it can be taken out of their control.  Throw an illness, family emergency or global pandemic into the mix, and paying the monthly balance can quickly become a struggle. This is especially true for those without significant savings.  Currently, 43 per cent … Read more

Mortgage approvals up 40% on long-term average

Pandemic property boom drives mortgage approvals up 38% on long-term average, Bank of England data shows Mortgages for new home purchases 38% above 10-year average in February   Approvals dipped slightly compared with January but could surge again following the extension of the stamp duty tax holiday and first-time buyer boosts People borrowed £6.2bn against their … Read more

Most popular spots for first-time buyers using the Lifetime Isa revealed

Bristol has once again been named as the most popular spot for first-time buyers purchasing their home with the help of Government-funded bonuses, This is Money can reveal. A total of 196 homes have been bought in the city with the help of a Lifetime Isa from the UK’s most popular provider so far this … Read more

Mortgage prisoners: Will a law change finally offer an escape?

This is Money spoke to three mortgage prisoners about the impact it has had on their lives. Some of them are on temporary lower rates, thanks to Covid-19 – although it is unclear when this temporary respite ends.  Claire Johnson, 57, from Sheffield: Highest interest rate paid 5.4%  Claire Johnson, pictured with her nephew, says … Read more

Record day for property sales and Rightmove traffic has surged

Home sales hit their highest daily level in a decade this week, as the housing market boom continued apace. The number of property sales agreed on Tuesday 23 March was the highest for ten years, according to analysis by the UK’s biggest home listings website Rightmove. In total, just under 8,000 properties listed on the … Read more

Busiest property markets of 2020 revealed: Cambridgeshire town tops table as buyers

The busiest property markets of 2020 revealed: Cambridgeshire town takes top spot as buyers shun cities for quieter areas Small towns saw most property purchases relative to their population in 2020  Huntingdon, Pontefract and Great Yarmouth topped the list compiled by Haysto Buyers moved further from cities and sought green space due to the pandemic … Read more

Jump in chain-free house listings: Owners sell up and rent to make themselves more attractive buyers

Jump in chain-free house listings: Owners sell up and rent in bid to make themselves more attractive buyers One in five properties listed for sale on Rightmove are now chain-free Not having an onward chain can give buyers an advantage in a bidding war  Buyers leaving cities for the sticks are also using renting to … Read more

Buyer’s vs seller’s markets: How to judge property near you

The extension of the stamp duty holiday is tipped to add further fuel to the fire of the property market, but while some areas are blowing hot others are cold. Headline figures show house prices surging on average but dig deeper and England’s property picture is divided into buyer’s and seller’s markets, according to researchers … Read more

ONS: House prices fell slightly in January 2021

Property prices dropped on a monthly basis for the first time in half a year in January, according to official figures. The average house price was £249,309, a drop of 0.5 per cent compared to December 2020 when the figure hit a record high of £251,500. However, values have increased hugely over the past year, … Read more

Housing transactions leap by nearly a quarter in February in show of ‘remarkable resilience’ 

Housing transactions jumped a quarter in February in what has been described as a show of ‘remarkable resilience’ in the market.  There was a huge 23 per cent increase in transactions between January and February, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, official figures show. In total, there were 147,050 homes bought or sold in February 2021, according … Read more