Your first move onto the property ladder September 9, 2012 UK HOUSE prices saw their biggest fall for a year in the three months to July 2012, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). But the capital is bucking the trend. London property prices grew by 6.5 per cent over the last year, according to last quarter’s Greater London Authority London Housing Market [...]
More homes would make climbing the second step easier September 9, 2012 GETTING a foot on the property ladder is hard. But, taking the second step could be even harder. Agonising market conditions mean that it could now be the most challenging time to be a “second stepper” in years. Research shows that a first-time buyer stays in their first property for around four years. Since the [...]
Hollande is forced to nationalise mortgage lender on default fear September 2, 2012 FRENCH president Francois Hollande was forced to nationalise France’s second biggest specialist mortgage lender on Saturday night after a cash drought left it unable to pay its debts, meaning the government could be on the hook for up to €20bn in guarantees. Credit Immobilier de France (CIF), which has around four per cent of the [...]
House prices show biggest monthly rise since 2010 August 31, 2012 British house prices showed their strongest monthly rise in more than two-and-a-half years this month, mortgage lender Nationwide said today, in contrast to a generally weak picture for the country’s property market and broader economy. Nationwide said house prices rose by 1.3 per cent in August after falling a downwardly revised 0.8 per cent in [...]
Moody’s chops 3CIF’s rating on bailout fear August 28, 2012 MORTGAGE lender Caisse Centrale du Credit Immobilier de France (3CIF) yesterday saw its long-term debt rating slashed from A1 to Baa1 by ratings agency Moody’s, as it continues to seek a buyer. The troubled institution cannot access capital markets, and in July announced plans to sell itself. But its long-term future is far from assured [...]
Fewer deals on offer for first time buyers August 22, 2012 THE MORTGAGE market has tightened up over the past six months, but remortgage lending has bounced back, according to reports. The number of high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages has plummeted, with a collapse in 90 per cent and 95 per cent mortgages offered, MoneySupermarket said yesterday. Its data shows that 95 per cent mortgage availability has [...]
Mortgage lending jumps ahead of Funding for Lending Scheme August 20, 2012 MORTGAGE lending jumped sharply in July, according to industry data published yesterday, with the government’s new Funding for Lending Scheme expected to boost loans further through August. Gross lending rose eight per cent to £12.7bn in the month, reversing the fall to £11.7bn in June, the Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed. However, analysts warn the [...]
House prices show biggest fall in a year August 14, 2012 British house prices experienced their most widespread falls for a year in the three months to July, and surveyors do not expect the outlook to improve over the next 12 months, a survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed today. The figures, which also show sellers hanging back, reinforce a generally gloomy [...]
Supply to housing market declines August 13, 2012 The supply of properties into the housing market continued to drop last month, according to a widely-regarded survey released this morning. A net balance of 15 per cent of surveyors reported weaker demand in July, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found. And five per cent more chartered surveyors reported falls rather than rises in [...]
Post Office to offer mortgages across its local branch network August 9, 2012 POST Office customers will be able to pick up a mortgage alongside their book of stamps, under a pilot scheme launched yesterday. Trained mortgage advisers are now available in five of the organisation’s outlets – Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Luton and Norwich – to offer free consultations as part of the firm’s push to become one [...]