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Banks and building societies are continuing to ration mortgages despite having access to cheaper funds through a new scheme, figures have shown.

The data reveals that there has been little movement in the availability of mortgages for potential borrowers who are unable to offer a large deposit. Brokers say that, for those who have a large enough deposit, lenders have been dropping mortgage interest rates.

But there are few signs yet of things becoming easier for first-time buyers.

More than two-thirds of the mortgage products available on the market in the UK at the start of November required

The penultimate property auctions have taken place, and we are now focussed on the final property auctions of 2012.  Catalogues will be released on an ongoing basis between now and early December, with the final auction in the UK taking place 17th December.  There will be a break over the Christmas, with nationwide auction houses closing until early January, and the first round of auctions for 2013 commencing late Jan/early Feb.  The first catalogues of the new year, should start to be released (and in our database) from second week of January.

If you are thinking about auctioning your

Homeowners in the UK are becoming increasingly optimistic regarding the nation's housing market, according to new research carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Halifax,

The report showed that more Britons expect prices to rise rather than fall over the next 12 months. It suggested that 35% of respondents anticipate an increase in such costs, which is markedly higher than the 20% who predicted a decline.

Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: "Despite some regional differences, the general improvement in confidence in the outlook for house prices over the past year reflects the

The number of people taking in a lodger has almost doubled to a million, according to new research from LV. And thanks to the Government’s Rent a Room scheme, you can earn up to £4,250 in rental income without paying a single penny in tax. If you rent out a room jointly – perhaps as a couple – you can each earn up to £2,125 tax-free.

Better still, you won’t have to declare this income if you don’t normally complete a tax return, and there's no need to apply for the scheme either. The exemption is automatic – what could be easier? That means you could earn over £350 a month from your spare room

We are currently accepting entries into the final auctions of 2012. If your property has been on the market for ages or you're just needing to sell quickly, and want to find out more about auction, then contact us today!

What are some of the benefits of selling at auction?

•         The possibility of obtaining a higher price and an earlier sale.
•         A greater certainty of selling your property - 60-70% on average.
•         Predictable time scales so you can plan ahead with confidence.
•         A much quicker sale from first marketing to completion of sale of property.

There

The cost of renting a home in England and Wales rose by 1.1% in September to reach a new record high, a survey has suggested.

LSL Property Services, which owns the Your Move and Reeds Rains property chains, said that the average rent was now at £741 a month.

This was 1.1% higher than August and 3.2% up on the same month a year earlier.

Rents rose in seven different regions, at a peak time of tenant demand. This was driven by increases in London and the South East of England, the survey said.

"Rents have risen consecutively for half a year as tenant demand strengthens on the back of a

Auction House Leeds and West Yorkshire yesterday achieved a success rate of just under 70% with over £2,000,000 raised.

Notable results included a three bedroom semi-detached house in popular area of Dewsbury, in need of a complete overhaul, which achieved just over £100,000 from a guide of £60/70,000. Over 50 people were shown round the property and very aggressive bidding was seen in the room.

2 Lock side cottages needing refurbishment  at Apperley Bridge were guided from  £160,000 and went over the £200,000 barrier showing that there is a huge demand for properties with potential.

On a more

A surprising new pattern is emerging as young London families struggle to cope with these tougher economic times, reports Homes & Property today. In an attempt to meet rising household expenses and university tuition and school fees, families are selling up, taking a cash bonus out of their homes and downsizing.

They are discovering that by selling their home in the capital they can expect a typical cash windfall of £270,000 if they move to a cheaper property, according to new research. In the past, downsizing was usually the preserve of older couples whose children had left home. Now, more

It can be difficult for first time buyers to get their feet onto the property ladder. With high house prices, unachievable mortgage deposits and lenders looking for low risk investments, the prospect of buying your own home can seem very daunting. Therefore, people looking to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder may find Shared Ownership (sometimes known as Part Buy Part Rent) is an attractive option.

Robert Dibb, director at mortgage advice specialists Advoco Financial, has noted this approach has numerous advantages for first-time buyers (FTBs). Mr Dibb explained the

House prices in rural parts of the UK have recently been outperforming those in city centres, new research by Halifax has suggested.

It was demonstrated that while the average price of a property in the city has tumbled 22% over the last five years, the typical value of a rural property has dipped slightly less at 20%.

As a result of such movement, the average price of a home in a rural setting is £201,191, which is 17% more expensive than the £171,709 price tag typically given to an urban-based abode.

In the last 12 months, the value of a house in the countryside has typically increased by 2%