Mortgages

Deputy governor for Monetary Policy at the Bank of England Charlie Bean has said lower inflation next year should both support the mortgage market and consumer spending.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) said the scope of the European Directive means niche lending areas including bridging, high-net worth borrowers and credit unions may be harmed by the catch-all nature of the rules.

The FSA has issued a warning to consumers over schemes which appear to pay off a homeowner's debts, whilst allowing them to remain in their home.

The struggle of finding a mortgage in your forties, families being split apart by inheritance tax disputes and fears around cash held outside the UK safety net...the things your clients will call you about this week.

Average house prices in September dropped 2.6% year-on-year, with the average house price in England and Wales now £162,109, according to the Land Registry.

HMRC is preparing to go to court to challenge Stamp Duty tax avoidance schemes that have cost it £35m in lost revenue.

Barclays is set to increase the maximum LTV of its Woolwich mortgage fixed rate range to 90% LTV from tomorrow.

Abbey for Intermediaries has revealed plans to distribute all of its core retail financial products through brokers and confirmed its much-speculated entry into the buy-to-let sector.

Unemployment in the UK increased by 114,000 for the three months to August to 2.57m people - the highest number since 1994, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Two fraudulent mortgage advisers who appealed fines by the regulator have been hit with higher fines than the original ruling after a hearing at the financial services Upper Tribunal.