Mortgages

House prices fell slightly in May by 0.4% following a 0.1% decline in April, according to the Halifax House Price Index.

Property prices have risen 0.5% in May, producing annual growth of nearly 10%, according to the Nationwide House price index.

Mortgage lending fell between March and April, according to the Bank of England's latest Trends in Lending report.

The coalition Government's Capital Gains Tax (CGT) proposals could force a quarter of landlords to leave the buy-to-let sector, according to LSL Property Services.

The number of properties put on the market in May jumped 89.4% on April 2009 to its highest level in more than two years, according to Agency Express.

Government plans to increase Capital Gains Tax (CGT) are likely to give the UK property market a short-term boost but could restrain longer term price growth.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) is to introduce a Homeowner Variable Rate of initially 3.99% for new Lloyds TSB and Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) mortgages from 1 June.

Nearly two-thirds of mortgage brokers expect to do more mortgage business in the second half of 2010 than the first.

Leadbay's parent company, Add Momentum Holdings, has joined with the All About Group to create the country's largest financial services lead generation company.

Sammon Mortgage Management, a new mortgage brokerage, has launched to service clients in Central and Greater London.