Towergate Financial, the financial advisory business of the Towergate Partnership, has bought beleaguered mortgage broker John Charcol.

Mortgage approvals dropped by almost 10,000 in January, according to the latest monthly figures from the British Bankers' Association (BBA).

Two solicitors have appeared at City of London Magistrates Court after being charged with offences in connection with a series of various commercial mortgage frauds.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has dismissed industry calls to regulate estate agents.

Consumer requests for mortgages have risen by 50% since January 2009, pointing towards increased activity in the mortgage market, according to Unbiased.

Mortgage sources performed on Trigold's Prospector system rose by 50% in January, according to the latest figures from the software provider.

House prices rose by 2.9% in 2009 and 0.8% in December, according to the latest Government figures.

The FSA has banned Walthamstow-based mortgage broker Kevin Byrne for allowing a fake client to apply for a mortgage.

Moody's has warned mortgage lenders will be forced to merge when the Government schemes come to an end.

Asking prices for houses in England and Wales experienced their biggest monthly increase since April 2007, according to Rightmove.