Mortgages

Research figures published by Knight Frank suggest prime office yields in the South East will drop to a rate of 4.5% by the last quarter of this year because of a sharp rise in the amount of additional investor money going into the sector.

Prudential has attempted to draw a line over the issue of mortgage endowment complaints setting a six-month timebar for complaints to be received.

House prices have risen by 5.05% in England and Wales since the start of the year taking the average house price to £192,745 the latest Land Registry figures reveal.

A drop in the number of houses on the market and a rise in the use of offset and lifetime mortgages are some of the developments speakers on IFAonline TV expect to see in the near future.

Safe Home Income Plans (Ship) has reported steady growth in the equity release market with the total value of new business written standing at £279m for the first quarter of 2006, an 11% increase on the same period last year.

Mortgage lenders are less likely to use IFAs if the Financial Services Authority (FSA) shifts responsibility for advice onto them, warns Michael Coogan, director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

MortgageStream mortgage case management software has worked out a deal with Lloyd's of London insurance broker PYV, which reduces the professional indemnity insurance (Pii) premiums for intermediaries who use the broker.

Annual house price inflation could be as much as 8% this year - its highest level since March 2005 - according to the latest Halifax House Price Index.

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has once again decided the best course of action is to leave well enough alone and frozen interest rates at 4.75% for the ninth month in a row.

A mortgage should be regarded as a financial planning tool to help people at different stages of their lives, according to industry figures speaking on IFAonline TV.