House prices down in September October 6, 2011 House prices unexpectedly fell 0.5 per cent in September and were 2.3 per cent lower in the three months to September compared with a year ago, a survey by mortgage lender Halifax showed. Analysts had expected a rise of 0.2 per cent on the month, for a three-month annual fall of 2.1 per cent. September’s [...]
Mistakes to avoid if you move abroad October 5, 2011 MANY people choose to leave the UK to escape, temporarily or permanently, the gloomy weather and the even gloomier tax regime. Sadly, there is a mountain of bureaucracy to wade through before setting sail for warmer climes. “It is important to differentiate between moving overseas for a short period of time and expatriating indefinitely,” says [...]
Mortgage approvals up September 29, 2011 The number of new mortgages approved, but not yet lent, for home buyers in August rose to its highest level since December 2009, according to figures from the Bank of England. It said 52,410 mortgages were approved last month. That was nearly three thousand more than in July, and the highest number since December 2009. [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 26, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES BP PROPOSES FOURTH PIPELINE ROUTE TO BRING AZERBAIJAN GAS TO EUROPE BP is planning a pipeline stretching 1,300 km across three countries to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The scheme is a new entrant in the highly charged competition to construct a supply route to the Caspian basin and reduce Europe’s dependence [...]
SBI launches buy to let mortgages in UK September 21, 2011 STATE Bank of India is entering the British buy-to-let mortgage market as part of a push to increase the size of its retail division. The lender, which is majority owned by the Indian government, has just begun offering sums of between £50,000 and £1.5m to professional landlords and people who own second homes. It plans [...]
Only facing up to your debt problems will stop the stress September 21, 2011 DON’T look so frightened,” Tracy Finn tells me. We are sat in the big Queen Street branch of HSBC in the City. It’s 10am on Wednesday morning, and I’m only about a year late for this meeting. “I help dozens of people with their personal debt every month,” she assures me. “Most of them earning [...]
Loan market is stagnating, warns CML September 20, 2011 LENDING to housebuyers increased strongly in August, offsetting July’s poor figures according to statistics released yesterday by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Lenders doled out £13.4bn last month, up six per cent on July and an increase of 10 per cent on August 2010. July 2009 was the last time monthly lending was higher, [...]
Mortgage lending highest since July 2009 September 20, 2011 Gross mortgage lending in Britain last month rose to its highest level in more than two years, rebounding from July’s weak reading to stand 10 percent higher than a year ago, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said. Gross mortgage lending in August came in at an estimated £13.4bn, up from £12.6bn in July and £12.1bn [...]
Rise in Taylor Wimpey sales lifts margins September 19, 2011 HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey said yesterday that sales rates in recent weeks have been encouraging, as the industry has benefited from a seasonal surge in home buying activity. The FTSE 250-listed firm added it is on track to deliver on margin targets this year. The country’s second largest builder by market value said net sales rates [...]
Taylor Wimpey says housebuilding bouncing back September 19, 2011 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said sales rates in recent weeks have been encouraging, as the industry has benefited from a seasonal surge in home buying activity, and added it is on track to deliver on margin targets. The country’s second largest builder by market value said net sales rates so far in the second half are [...]