Who qualifies All first-time buyers with joint incomes up to £60,000 are now eligible.

What is shared ownership? You buy a share in a property — 25 per cent to 50 per cent — and pay rent on the part you do not own. As your financial situation improves, you can “staircase”, ie buy further shares up to 100 per cent.  On the upside, there is no need for you to raise a big mortgage, however you do not own the property outright and face restrictions when you come to sell.

What is an equity loan? You pay part of the cost of your new home, usually 40 per cent to 50 per cent, and the

The London Evening Standard New Homes Awards, now in their 20th year, celebrate the highest standards of skill, design and craftsmanship in today’s new homes.

The awards consist of twelve categories, most of which have two sections. One section is for companies, or groups of associated companies, who build more than 100 units per annum. The other section is for those completing up to 100 units per annum.

So, whether you have built hundreds of units, or just a single house within the past year, we welcome your entries for these coveted awards.

The closing date for entries is Friday 4

Recent figures have shown that the interest charged on short-term fixed rate mortgages fell to a record low during December.

The average cost of a two-year fixed rate deal for someone with a 25% deposit dropped to 3.49% during the month, the lowest level since Bank of England records began in 1995.

Rates for the loans have been falling steadily since April last year as competition gradually returns to the mortgage market.

Tracker deals for a purchaser borrowing 75% of their home's value also remained competitive, edging ahead to 3.51% during December, only 0.02% above October's record

2011 begins with a boost for the buy-to-let industry, as an increasing number of residential landlords say that they are confident in the marketplace. Findings from the January Upad Landlord Confidence Index show that 63% of residential landlords are more confident than last month, up from 60% in December.

337 landlords responded to the question “Are you more confident or less confident about the buy-to-let market than you were last month?”

Of those who said that they felt more confident, most cited increased tenant demand for properties as the reason. Comments included:

•“Rents are

The Independent on Sunday reported that prospective homeowners are bypassing estate agents in favour of residential auctions.

The number of residential properties auctioned over the past 12 months has risen substantially, with more than 25,000 homes on sale in 2010, with more than 100 residential auctions held in December alone, with 2,000 lots sold generating revenues in excess of £370m.

The final quarter of 2010 saw a 10 per cent increase in residential sales compared with the same period a year earlier. Property experts predict the trend is likely to accelerate over the coming year

Remember that you can now follow us on Twitter and you can join our Facebook group for regular property auction updates and latest news!

Are you interested in putting your property in to auction?

UK Auction List has teamed with some of the leading auction houses within the UK to help you put your property on the market. Simply visit our SELLING section http://www.ukauctionlist.com/selling/property-auction-enquiry-form (or click on the Selling box on our homepage) to complete our property auction enquiry form. On receipt of the form, we will contact you to discuss the next steps and answer any questions about the auction process, that you might have.

Alternatively you can call us on 0845 053 6906 to discuss your

Some reports today have been rather uncertain, even negative, in terms of 2011 property market, however certain commentators are more positive about the prospects for potential buyers in 2011.

"Lenders are becoming more flexible and have more funds available, which may lead to a favourable effect on the market in 2011," said Malcolm Waldron, regional director of estate agent Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward Financial Services.

He added: "This is unlikely to encourage an increase in the number of transactions but it could mean a wider range of mortgage products on offer for those borrowers who

The tough mortgage environment in 2011 will impact heavily on first-time buyers, as the large deposits required by lenders and difficulties obtaining finance will continue to keep many from getting a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder.

According to the CML, with funding in short supply, the availability of mortgages for first-time buyers will remain limited, with lenders likely to continue to have only a "modest appetite" for advancing mortgages at higher loan-to-value ratios.

"Mortgage lending will continue to be the preserve of those with large deposits, perfect credit and steady

Although it was reported this morning on BBC News that mortgage lending rose in November 2010, Melanie Bien, director of broker Private Finance, told MSN Money today: "There will be some great buying opportunities in 2011, but the problem will be securing the mortgage finance to do it, as the lending market is likely to tighten further."

This echoes the recent warning from the CML that a critical new era of even tighter lending will be ramped up in the spring.

"From April onwards, lenders will have to repay the funding advanced through official support schemes," a CML spokesman said.