While most families think that their first baby will require more financial outlay than subsequent children, new research suggests that the second child may be more expensive because the family may have to move to a larger house. Families with a second baby on the way are paying an average of £60,000 to move to [...]
The number of property repossessions increased slightly to 9,200 in the third quarter from 9,100 in the second quarter. However, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) expects the total number of UK homes repossessed this year to be less than feared. The organisation believes that a number of factors are helping to minimise home repossessions [...]
The old saying ‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’, may still hold true but difficult economic conditions are causing young couples to make some tough choices according to research by Churchill Home Insurance. The nationwide survey found that 28 per cent of young couples in the UK are having to postpone buying a house in [...]
New figures from the Halifax show a 1.2 per cent increase in house prices in October, however compared with a year ago they have fallen by 1.8 per cent. In the three months to the end of October, house prices fell by 0.3 per cent, compared with the previous quarter, representing the first fall since [...]
The latest house price index from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed prices rose by 0.4% in October on a monthly basis. On an annual basis, house prices are now 0.8% higher than this time last year – representing the first yearly rise in six months – with the average UK home costing £165,650. However, [...]
The Bank of England has today revealed mortgage approvals fell in September for the first time in six months. According to the Bank, there were 50,967 loans approved in the month – down 3% on August’s figure. However, September’s figure was broadly in line with forecasts and suggests the UK mortgage market will remain subdued [...]
A survey by LSL Property Services has revealed rents in England and Wales continue to surge, with the average rent hitting a further record high last month. September represented the eighth consecutive month that the average rental cost rose. Lenders’ deposit requirements, together with unaffordable house prices, has meant the rental sector has been in [...]
Property website, Rightmove, has today reported a further rise in asking prices for the month of October. According to Rightmove, asking prices for residential property in England and Wales surged 2.8% in October on a monthly basis and were 1.2% higher compared with this time last year. This compares with a 0.7% monthly increase and [...]
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has today reported that the UK housing market is suffering due to fears over the economy. However, the Institution said the number of enquiries from potential new buyers increased marginally in the month, with 3% more surveyors reporting a rise rather than a fall. First-time buyers, in particular, [...]
Official data from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) today revealed UK house prices rose by 0.6% in August compared with July. However, on an annual basis, house prices are 1.3% lower, taking the average UK house price to £208,476. The data from the DCLG is based on mortgage completions figures collected by [...]
The Halifax has today revealed UK house prices fell by 0.5% in September on a monthly basis and follows a 1.2% fall in August. The latest fall takes the average cost of a UK home to £161,132, the Halifax said. On an annual basis, meanwhile, prices are 2.3% lower, said the lender, which is now [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has revealed growth in the UK construction industry fell in September. The closely-watched PMI dipped to 50.1 in September from August’s 52.6 – the figure was lower than the 51.7 expected by analysts. Furthermore, the index is hovering dangerously close to the crucial [...]
According to housing intelligence group, Hometrack, house prices in England and Wales fell in September – the 15th consecutive monthly fall. According to Hometrack, house prices dipped by 0.1% in September on a monthly basis and are 3.5% lower on the year. Hometrack attributes the ongoing trend to weak demand for housing on the uncertainty [...]
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is calling on the Government to launch new initiatives to boost the ailing housing market, suggesting it could help economic growth. The business lobby group wants Chancellor George Osborne to launch the fresh initiatives in his autumn statement, which will be delivered later this year. In a speech to [...]
The latest house price index from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed prices rose by just 0.1% in September on a monthly basis. On an annual basis, house prices are now 0.3% lower than this time last year with the average UK home costing £166,256. Meanwhile, when comparing prices in the three months to the [...]
According to the Land Registry, house prices fell by 0.3% in August after a 1.3% rise in July. The latest fall takes the average cost of a home to £162,347 in England and Wales. On an annual basis, meanwhile, the Registry said prices are 2.6% lower. It must be noted that the Land Registry compiles [...]
The Commerce Department has revealed sales of new homes in the US fell to a six-month low in August, suggesting the housing market remains depressed. According to the Commerce Department, new single-family home sales fell 2.3% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 295,000 units – the lowest level since February. The figure [...]
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has today revealed a fall in the number of homes sold in August in the UK. According to HMRC, 78,000 homes worth at least £40,000 or more were sold in the month – 6,000 less than the previous month and 3,000 lower than in August 2010. However, August is traditionally [...]
Property website, Rightmove, has today reported a slight rise in asking prices for the month of September. According to Rightmove, asking prices for residential property in England and Wales rose 0.7% (or an average £1,596) in September. The property website, which claims to advertise 90% of the properties on the market, said the latest asking [...]
A survey by LSL Property Services has revealed rents in England and Wales continue to surge, with the average rent hitting a further record high last month. August represented the seventh consecutive month that the average rental cost rose. Lenders’ deposit requirements, together with unaffordable house prices has meant the rented sector has been in [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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