Mortgages

There still seems to be no slowdown in house price inflation, according to the latest Nationwide house price update, as property values rose another 3.1% in February.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld two complaints against mortgage providers, which highlight the way in which advertising or documents can be interpreted as misleading.

Housing markets in the UK, Spain, France and Ireland saw double-digit growth in 2003, but none are expected to maintain such high rates of inflation during 2004, suggests the RICS European housing survey.

British homeowners are shunning away from long-term fixed-rate mortgages despite the fact many lenders have been campaigning for the deals ahead of a possible rise in interest rates.

IFAs and their clients should not rush to change strategies with regards to mortgages and property investments in light of further reports the existing way of funding local councils may be scrapped in favour of a new system of local income taxes.

Equity release is becoming an increasingoly popular alternative for older home-owners according to the latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, suggesting lifetime mortgage lending increased by more than two-thirds in 2003.

UK housing market is recouping losses after property prices make their biggest leap in four months, the latest Rightmove house price survey reveals.

A Scottish legal firm is gathering with a steering group of IFAs next month to form a Defence Union offering members expert legal representation to deal with complaints to the FOS and FSA.

Bradford & Bingley's the Marketplace has launched two new mortgages which allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 102% Loan to Value without requiring a guarantor signature and remortgages up to 105% LTV.

Take-up of buy-to-let mortgages rose by almost half in 2003, however, the buy-to-let sector still makes up only 5% of the total mortgage market, according to figures presented by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.