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Foundations Online - News

News - Mortgages & home | This is Money

Halifax House Price Index: House prices gain £844 in January as low interest rates offer support for buyers

Halifax said record low interest rates continue to underpin demand, and offset negative developments in the economy that would otherwise push house prices lower.
ASK THE EXPERTS: Husband¿s DIY will may force you to leave home

My husband has made a new will - using a kit bought from a stationer - leaving equal shares in half our home to our five grandchildren once they reach 25. Can you make such a legacy?
FSA puts 'sale and rent back' deals on hold after review shows poor practice in the sector

The FSA found that some firms did not fully assess how appropriate an agreement would be for the customer and simply allowed them to enter into it because they wanted to.
Does double glazing with cling film on windows stop heat loss?

Putting cling film on a single glazed window will help you to reduce energy loss as it acts as a very basic - and inexpensive - 'double glazing'.
New high speed link could boost Birmingham's future housing market

Cutting a minute off a commuter train journey to London adds £1,300 to the price of the average terrace home, and, according to Savills, increases the price of a detached property by £2,250 for every minute saved.
Top 20 burglary hotspots: Home insurance data reveals postcodes with highest rate of claims

Homeowners in Stoke Newington in north London are the most likely to have made a claim for theft or burglary on their home insurance policy, according to new research.
Buy-to-let mortgage deals increase by 100 in a year and interest rates fall - Moneyfacts

There are 100 more deals on offer now than a year ago - and the average buy-to-let rate has dropped from 5 per cent to 4.79 per cent.
Nationwide: House prices dipped 0.2% in January and will be stuck 'sideways' this year

House prices managed to remain fairly steady in January, despite challenging economic conditions and the UK economy contracting in the final three months of 2011.
Mortgage price war sees rates hit record lows as banks try to kick-start housing market

Rates on five-year and ten-year fixes have plunged to the lowest ever level in the past week.
First-time buyers: Shortcuts to a first mortgage and buying a house

High property prices and big deposit demands have left first-time buyers struggling, but This is Money can help with the latest news, features and advice.
Chelsea BS record low five-year fixed mortgage deal at 3.19%

Chelsea BS has potentially started a new battle to offer homeowners cheap cash, with its five-year fix rate the lowest ever offered.
Tenants' rights and Tenancy Deposit Protection: What buy-to-let landlords must do

Increasing numbers of Britons are renting their home but they are not always given the rights they are due. We outline what tenants are entitled to and what they must do.
From part exchange to deposit matching, are new build home offers worth it?

With the housing market at a standstill and first-time buyers struggling to qualify for mortgages, builders of new build homes are offering a range of incentives, but are they just window dressing?
Land Registry: House prices fell 1.3% in 2011 and a London home costs 3.5 times a North East property

The increasing division of a property world of 'haves' and 'have nots' has been revealed in the Land Registry figures for 2011.
ASK THE EXPERTS: What¿s our tax bill if we sell second home?

My wife and I bought a flat in 1987 for £20,000 as a second home. We are thinking of selling and it might bring us in about £80,000. How big a tax bill would we face?
Rightmove & Hometrack: House prices fail to rise for 18 months and buyers eye further falls

Two separate reports have revealed the tough times facing the UK property market, with prices in the doldrums and only a quarter expecting them to be higher in a year.
Opening up the loft could lower your overheads as renting out spare space or taking in a lodger boosts household incomes

Are you seeking ways to boost your battered income? The answer could be closer to home than you think. There is money to be made by taking in a lodger, or by renting out space on the driveway or in the loft.
Plunging mortgage charges and house prices mean owning a home is cheaper than renting... by £1,400 a year

If you own your home you are now almost £1,400 a year better off than someone renting, a Halifax study revealed yesterday.
Moving home cost rockets 70% and stamp duty sends South East move above £16k

The cost of moving home has jumped by almost 70 per cent in the past ten years, with buyers forced to find £9,000 to pay fees and tax alone.
One in ten young people rely on 'Bank of Granny and Grandad' for help with house deposit

A report by housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said rising numbers of young people struggling to buy their first home are being forced to ask their grandparents for help with house deposits.
What next for mortgage rates?

Mortgage rates have inched up slightly since hitting record lows in late summer, but should you take a fixed or tracker deal? Read our latest analysis
The returns on my endowment policy are rather small - should I cancel it?

Last year, the value of my policy rose by only £309 for an outlay of £496. If I cancelled, what could I expect?
Can tenants in common agreement help to plan for better inheritance tax?

I have read that you might be able to plan better for inheritance tax if you own your house as tenants in common. What exactly does this mean?
I need a safe home for £420,000 from house sale. Any ideas?

We have sold our house and are living with relatives while we look for another place to buy. Where should we put the proceeds of about £420,000 to keep them secure for a few months?
Yorkshire Building Society relaxes buy-to-let mortgage lending criteria

Changes to its buy-to-let criteria include dropping the minimum required property value from £150,000 to £100,000 and reducing the minimum income an applicant needs to earn, from £35,000 to £20,000.
Buy-to-let investors set for another 'bumper year' as tenant demand continues to soar

Landlords could be set for a good 2012, as low interest rates and the gradual easing of lending restrictions continues to stimulate growth for buy-to-let properties.
Aviva have stung me with an early redemption charge for my lifetime mortgage

After my wife died on March 1 last year, I found it necessary to sell our flat and buy a bungalow.
Should I invest in cash, shares or property?

Given that the interest I am earning is so little, it doesn't seem a good idea to have money sitting in the bank. What is the best way to get a better return.
Should you take out a long-term mortgage? Five-year fix v lifetime tracker

Cheap rates are available on trackers and fixed deals and save homeowners the cost and bother of switching every two years.
Global housing market stagnates - and properties in Ireland are the worst impacted

The Knight Frank Global House Prices index has shown its weakest performance since 2009, with Ireland at the foot of the table.
How to be a more profitable buy-to-let landlord: Cut out the middlemen agents

High rents and more favourable buy-to-let mortgage deals are tempting people into becoming landlords. We show you how to increase your profits by cutting out the middleman.
House prices: What to expect - news and predictions

The property market faces another tough ride in 2012, is the overwhelming message from the major end of year forecasts. We analyse the latest figures.
I'm looking to sell my French gite - has the eurozone crisis made its value fall and deterred people from buying?

I have a gite in Normandy which I was planning to sell to fund my retirement in the next 18 months. Has my holiday home value fallen due to the eurozone crisis?
We're former bankrupts desperate for a mortgage

In 2007, my husband and I were declared bankrupt after our business failed. The bankruptcy was discharged in June 2008.
Why can't I get a mortgage?

I'm a first-time buyer and found what I thought was my perfect mortgage, but even though I have a deposit and good salary, I've been refused.
I recently had a nightmare tenant - Is it worth taking out landlord insurance in the future?

I had a nightmare tenant who has left arrears and trashed the place. Is it worth taking out landlord insurance in the future?
ASK TONY: My brother wants to sell our deceased mother's house - should I buy him out?

When my mother died, my brother and I let her house. He now wishes to put it on the market, but I’d prefer to keep it because we have a good tenant. What should I do?
Is it a good idea to remortgage our home to fund a buy-to-let property?

Is it a good idea to remortgage our primary residence in order to purchase a buy-to-let property and what are the rules surrounding this?
Should we sell our home or rent it out and wait for house prices to rise?

We have two properties. We are living in one and will move to the other shortly. Should we sell our current home or rent it out and hope that house prices rise?
A guide to how to pay off your mortgage early

Paying off your mortgage early is one of the best investments you can make, slashing thousands off what is likely to be your biggest debt. See our guide