Mortgages

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) has published a factsheet for its members giving information on what to expect when the Financial Services Authority (FSA) visits their firm.

So-called ‘Seeding Relief' from Stamp Duty has been withdrawn under the Budget proposals issued this afternoon.

The Chancellor has announced plans to provide £970m for shared equity schemes in order to help 35,000 first time buyers get onto the property ladder.

The Chancellor has increased the Inheritance Tax threshold from £275,000 to £325,000 ensuring 90% of estates pay no tax.

Ahead of today's Budget, Halifax has joined in calling for the Government to index the Inheritance Tax (IHT) threshold to house prices.

With less than two days to go before the Budget the housing industry has come out in force to lobby the Chancellor on Stamp Duty again.

Gross mortgage lending totalled £21.8bn in February, 5% lower than January's £23bn but 22% higher than the £17.9bn lent in February 2005, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

The amount of revenue the Exchequer collects from inheritance tax (IHT) could triple to £5.6bn a year in today's money by 2020, according to a report by Halifax.

The Financial Services Authority has given its clearest signal yet to the government it wants nothing to do with the regulation of claims management companies.