Published in May 2012

Why you should beware the best buy mortgage tables

by Christina Jordan | Mortgage best buy tables highlight the cheapest deals. But there's more to picking a mortgage than the interest rate.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks launch fee-free mortgages for small deposits

by ReenaSewraz | Good news for borrowers with only small deposits and Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks waive fees.

What to do if you're at risk of repossession

by Christina Jordan | If you;re struggling to pay the mortgage and threatened with repossession, follow these steps.

How to deal with property chain problems

by Laura Shannon | Buying a new home is exciting, but so much can go wrong before completion. Here's why you need a plan B if the deal falls through and how you can minimise any financial loss.

Santander launches NewBuy mortgage range

by Laura Shannon | Santander has become the latest lender to join the NewBuy scheme, with a range of mortgages for borrowers with small deposits.

The pros and cons of online estate agents

by Sabuhi Mir | As more and more of us turn to the internet when buying, selling or renting a property, we look at the cheapest ways to nab your dream home online.

Rightmove: house price optimism on the up

by John Fitzsimons | A new survey by Rightmove has revealed a growing expectation that house prices will rise over the next year.

Buy to let: confident landlords expanding portfolios

by Christina Jordan | Buy-to-let is the one sector of the mortgage market that is buoyant, and is set to stay that way.

DIY spending falls to record low

by John Fitzsimons | New research shows that DIY spending is at the lowest level since records began!

How to make a rented house a home

by ReenaSewraz | With an increasing number of people priced out of buying a property in the UK, renting has become routine. But how can you transform this temporary dwelling into your home without breaking the bank or the tenancy agreement?

Million borrowers face jump in mortgage repayments

by John Fitzsimons | A number of increases to lenders' standard variable rates came into effect this week, leaving a million borrowers facing higher bills.

Why long-term fixed rate mortgages are getting cheaper

by Christina Jordan | You don't just get financial security with a long-term fixed rate mortgage - the costs of the deals are falling too!

Why the NewBuy scheme isn't working

by ReenaSewraz | Two months after launch, how are lenders behaving and is anyone actually using this Government-backed scheme?

Government backs self-build homes

by Christina Jordan | Self-build homes could be the future!

Halifax to pay half of borrowers' Stamp Duty bills

by ReenaSewraz | Halifax extends its offer to all homebuyers for properties priced £250,000 or less.

The top eight variable mortgages

by ReenaSewraz | Now may be the time to take a gamble and save on your monthly mortgage repayments with these great variable deals.

Published in April 2012

North vs. south: the real housing market winners

by Robert Powell | England’s housing market is so often a tale of two regions: the north and the south. But who are the real winners? Robert Powell patches together the figures in an attempt to find out…

Buy to let: why landlords should buy in the north

by Cliff D'Arcy | Buy-to-let investors should head north for the best rental returns, but avoid the midlands!

Why living near the Tube will cost an extra £27k

by ReenaSewraz | Properties near to London Underground stations enjoy an incredible mark up, in some cases of up to £27,000!

How are mortgage rates decided?

by Robert Powell | What factors determine the price you pay for your home loan?

Get a great mortgage for free!

by Christina Jordan | As mortgage fees soar we do the sums on homeloans with no upfront costs

Five reasons why you need to remortgage today

by Christina Jordan | If you remortgage sooner rather than later it could prove a very smart decision.

Halifax unveils NewBuy 95% LTV mortgages

by John Fitzsimons | New mortgages from Halifax available up to 95% loan-to-value as part of NewBuy scheme.

Property asking prices hit record high - in the south

by Simon Ward | The average asking price in England and Wales hits a new high, says rightmove, but there are big differences between the north and south.

Blip or bust: the end of the rental boom?

by Robert Powell | As rents dip and some buy-to-let mortgage rates increase, Robert Powell asks if the good times are over for landlords…

Ask these questions before you rent!

by Serena Cowdy | With the mortgage market in turmoil, renting has become the new buying. But don’t be caught out! Here are the rip-offs and scams you should watch out for as a new tenant.

The top 10 fixed rate mortgages

by John Fitzsimons | If you're in the market for a fixed rate mortgage, these 10 deals should be top of your wishlist!

The hidden cost of buying a new build

by Felicity Hannah | The Government wants more homebuyers to buy new build properties. But they could end up in unsuitable, unsustainable homes as a result.

New Government planning policy does not go far enough

by Robert Powell | The Government's loosening of planning restrictions should be welcomed. But more change is needed to reform our archaic system of land ownership.

Annual house prices continue to fall, say March reports

by Simon Ward | The latest batch of house price reports show nationwide average prices stagnating, while the north-south divide continues.

Will borrowers with rented solar panels have trouble remortgaging?

by Neil Faulkner | We investigate whether customers with solar panels are having difficulties getting a remortgage deal with a new lender.

Co-operative Bank hikes standard variable rate

by John Fitzsimons | Co-operative Bank has increased its standard variable rate by 0.5%.

Tenants: how to get your deposit back

by Neil Faulkner | We look at preventive measures to ensure you get your tenancy deposit back, and how to make a dispute if the landlord tries to withhold it.

Published in March 2012

Interest-only borrowers left with nowhere to go

by Christina Jordan | Act now if you have an interest-only mortgage, or you might find yourself unable to switch to a new deal

Fix your mortgage for three years below 3%

by Robert Powell | Norwich and Peterborough has launched its cheapest ever three-year fixed rate mortgage – but is 36 months an appropriate length to lock in for? Robert Powell takes a look…

Why a mortgage broker will always find you the best mortgage

by Christina Jordan | Are you better off using a broker to get a mortgage or going it alone? Christina Jordan investigates.

The towns where taking in a lodger could make you mortgage free

by Robert Powell | Renting out a spare room in one of these regions could quash your monthly mortgage payments…

The world's house price hotspots

by Christina Jordan | Want to make money from property? We look at the best places in the world to buy.

The best NewBuy 90% and 95% mortgages

by Neil Faulkner | We take a look at the new cheaper mortgage scheme for people with deposits of just 5% to 10%.

Rightmove: north-south divide in property asking prices continues

by Simon Ward | The property website's March House Prices Index shows the average asking price increasing, but this masks big regional variations.

These homes are about to become worthless

by Cliff D'Arcy | Changes to flood insurance could leave 200,000 UK homes uninsurable and unsellable.

Tracker mortgages are still very cheap: don’t be scared into fixing your mortgage rate

by Christina Jordan | Rates may be on the up but trackers are still a savvy mortgage choice for many borrowers

‘Base rate to stay low until 2015’ – what to do now!

by Robert Powell | Here’s what it means for you and your finances if the forecast of three more years of 0.5% base rate materialises…

Property sales increase in February

by Simon Ward | Number of homes sold at highest level for nearly 18 months, but prices still fell, says Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Government NewBuy scheme and mortgages launched

by Simon Ward | The Government has confirmed details of its NewBuy mortgage indemnity scheme and three lenders have announced mortgages to support the programme.

Now's the time to get a fixed rate mortgage

by Christina Jordan | As lenders hike their standard variable rates, the time is ripe to grab a low fixed rate mortgage while you can.

Spa towns see house prices jump £1,000 a month

by Christina Jordan | Spa towns have seen huge house price growth, and there's little sign of this bubble popping!

How to rent out your home

by lovemoney staff | Struggling to sell in today's difficult property market? You could rent out your home instead.

Halifax: house prices falling

by Simon Ward | The bank's February House Prices Index shows prices are falling, despite the proportion of first-time buyers increasing.

RBS/NatWest and Halifax raise mortgage rates

by Simon Ward | Standard variable rates increased as banks say cost of raising capital is rising.

Nationwide: house prices keep rising - for now

by Simon Ward | The building society's latest House Price Index says prices rose again in February, but this may only be temporary with the Stamp Duty exemption deadline looming.

How to beat Stamp Duty

by Christina Jordan | The first-time buyer Stamp Duty holiday is coming to an end, but all is not lost…

Published in February 2012

Halifax increases cap on its standard variable rate

by Simon Ward | The bank is increasing the maximum it can charge borrowers on its standard variable rate to 3.75%, which could mean higher mortgage repayments for up to a million people.

Land Registry: house prices up in January but down annually

by Simon Ward | The Land Registry's latest figures show a small monthly price rise, but prices in most areas falling year-on-year.

House prices flat in February, says Hometrack

by Simon Ward | A shortage of supply is propping up prices, says the latest survey from the property analysts.

Second steppers hit hardest by housing market malaise

by John Fitzsimons | New research suggests it's harder to move up the ladder than to get on to it in the first place.

Rents rising but some landlords are losing out

by Robert Powell | Rents rose last month, the first time that's happened in the month of January in four years. However some landlords are still losing out…

Act quickly to secure a best buy mortgage!

by Christina Jordan | There are some fantastic homeloans on offer at the moment, but they won't hang around for long!

The rise of the rent-to-move landlord

by Robert Powell | Renting out your property and using the income to subsidise a second home is fast becoming a profitable alternative to the traditional ‘sell-up and move on’ approach, as Robert Powell explains…

House prices jump in February, says rightmove

by Simon Ward | Asking prices increase at their fastest monthly rate for a decade as sellers hike prices in high-demand areas, says the property website.

What's wrong with an interest-only mortgage?

by Donna Ferguson | It's easy to be seduced by the 'borrow more, pay less' promise of interest-only mortgages. But are these deals as good as they look?

Lenders clamp down on interest-only mortgages

by John Fitzsimons | It's getting tougher for borrowers to get hold of interest-only mortgages, with two lenders tightening up their criteria.

Top 25 first-time buyer mortgages!

by Christina Jordan | The Bank of England could be given powers to limit 'small deposit' mortgages from next January. So should you bag a first-time buyer deal now?

The best places to buy a second home

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell looks into the best places to buy a second home…

Should I get a buy-to-let mortgage?

by Felicity Hannah | Can my husband and I turn our home into a buy-to-let… and should we?

House sales up in Jan thanks to first-time buyers

by John Fitzsimons | A spike in first-time buyers led to a small jump in housing sales in January.

House price winners and losers

by Christina Jordan | Which areas saw the biggest house price jumps last year, and where did prices slump?

Our homes are worth £1 trillion more than they were a decade ago

by Simon Ward | A survey by Halifax has looked at the value of privately-owned properties across the UK over the past 10 years.

Buy your council house: Right to Buy is back!

by Christina Jordan | The Prime Minister wants to revive Right to Buy. But a new report has found flaws in his plans to allow people to buy their council house.

Selling homes: How to do it in a slump

by Cliff D'Arcy | The property market has slowed to a crawl, making selling your home increasingly tricky. These 10 tips will help you shift that property!

Property asking prices slashed as market stalls

by Simon Ward | Many sellers are now reducing the price of their homes by tens of thousands.

Bank of England given powers to curb mortgage sizes

by Robert Powell | Tough new powers to crack down on unsustainable mortgages will be handed to the Bank of England, George Osborne has said

House price rise in January but longer-term picture less rosy

by Simon Ward | Slight price rise in first month of the year but prices are down year-on-year, says Halifax.

Lowest five-year fixed mortgage rate ever

by Robert Powell | Chelsea Building Society has launched a five-year fixed rate mortgage priced at just 3.19% in the latest series of home loan price plunges…

How an offset mortgage can save you £8,000

by Christina Jordan | Mortgage borrowers could miss out on massive savings by failing to offset.

House prices in tiny fall in January

by Simon Ward | Nationwide says UK house prices fell by 0.2% between December and January.

Government details plans to help homebuyers and build more homes

by Simon Ward | Housing Minister Grant Shapps announces low-deposit mortgages won't just be open to first-time buyers and land for 80,000 new homes has been found.

Published in January 2012

How to cut the cost of moving home

by Christina Jordan | With moving expenses rising faster than house prices over the last decade, can you cut costs without cutting corners?

No growth in house prices as buyers stay away

by Simon Ward | Two new surveys show that prices are staying still as concerns about the wider economy continue.

Ten ways to find a good area to move to

by Robert Powell | It’s now easier than ever to investigative new neighbourhoods before you make a home move. Robert Powell rounds up some of the top online resources...

Housing market stalemate as young people can't buy

by Simon Ward | Two surveys highlight the reasons why young people are struggling to get onto the property ladder.

The worst way to pay your mortgage

by Cliff D'Arcy | Millions of homeowners have used credit to meet their monthly mortgage repayments. But it's a terrible thing to do!

Landlords - this little mistake could cost you your home!

by Cliff D'Arcy | These homeowners-turned-landlords learnt a horrible lesson when they rented out their house!

Fix your mortgage at 3.99% for a decade

by Christina Jordan | We look at the lowest ever 10-year fixed rate mortgage.

Is the buy-to-let bubble bursting?

by Christina Jordan | With record rental demand, high rents and low void periods, 2011 was a dream for landlords. But is the tide beginning to turn for buy to let?

Time running out for first-time buyers to avoid Stamp Duty

by Emma Lunn | First-time buyers have less than two months to get on the property ladder if they want to avoid paying Stamp Duty on their home.

Get a mortgage with a small deposit

by Robert Powell | A succession of lenders have targeted borrowers with small deposits by launching high-LTV mortgages. But are they any good?

Mortgage lending rises slightly in 2011

by Simon Ward | Council of Mortgage Lenders' figures shows mortgage lending rising although the future is "uncertain".

Cost of mortgage repayments falling

by John Fitzsimons | Mortgages as percentage of disposable income at 14-year low.

House prices fall as sellers dry up

by Simon Ward | Rightmove's latest house price report says the number of people selling their homes is at an all-time low.

How to stand the best chance of getting a mortgage

by Emma Lunn | As the Bank of England warns it could get tougher to get a mortgage in the next quarter, we look at how to make yourself attractive to lenders.

Mortgage fees rise by 70%

by Robert Powell | The average mortgage fee has risen by a huge £609 over the past 12 months. So what are your fee-free options?

Buy a home on Facebook

by Neil Faulkner | A new app on Facebook will allow you to use the social media site to to buy a home or check out your future tenants, and use your friends network to sell a room or property.

More homes for sale but prices continue to fall

by Simon Ward | The latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey finds more properties coming onto the market but "unrealistic prices" holding back sales.

Why UK house prices will fall

by Cliff D'Arcy | These 12 problems will drive house prices lower in 2012 and beyond!

2011's property hotspots

by Simon Ward | Two new surveys by Zoopla and Halifax look at the towns and cities where prices rose the most last year.

House prices fell at end of 2011 says Halifax

by Simon Ward | The bank's latest house price index shows a property market going nowhere fast amid continued economic uncertainty.

12 tremendous tracker mortgages

by Emma Lunn | Three years on from base rate hitting 0.5%, and with no change in sight, borrowers on variable mortgages are laughing all the way to the bank.

Mortgage lending to be cut back further

by Simon Ward | The Bank of England's latest Credit Conditions Survey forecasts a further tightening of lending this year.

Mortgage lending stays flat at end of 2011

by Simon Ward | New figures show number of approvals broadly the same in November as they were in October.

Property hotspots in 2012

by Cliff D'Arcy | Where should you look next year for properties to buy, rent out or holiday in?