The average asking price of a new home rose by 3.8% in May to £228,041, the highest level since October 2008, according to SmartNewHomes.

Strong positive growth was also recorded on a three month basis, up 4%, and the annual price growth was 3.4% in May, the highest increase for eight months.

The company reported: ‘The traditional ‘spring bounce’ in buying activity, recent good weather and continued low base rate have all contributed to higher demand for new homes. All major indices have shown a rise in average house prices in recent months. The general trend shows asking prices rising

With fees tripling to £9,000 per year in 2012, university applications have soared this year, leading to an increase in demand for student properties in many locations. As a knock-on effect, so-called ‘bank of mum and dad’ landlords are snapping up properties now to let on to their offspring and their friends.

Five key tips for parents looking to invest:

• Location is key. The property needs to be near shops, nightlife and within walking distance from main college buildings.
• Remember a three bedroom house can easily become a four bedroom by converting one of the rooms on the ground

We are very proud to report today that one of our national auctioneer partners, Auction House in Lancashire has broken all its records with a 52 lot auction achieving £1million over its last record breaking auction in only April this year.

During its recent auction in Preston, 39 out of 46 lots sold, raising a total of £3.67 million. The sale result of 85% compares well with the UK average currently 69%. There was competitive bidding from a packed room of about 300 people in the saleroom at Preston North End Football Club on Thursday 23 June. The auctioneer, Oliver Adams took the bold and

Without anyone to help pay the bills the cost of keeping a roof over your head can soon rack up. Here are 7 things you can do to cut the cost of foregoing flatmates and living by yourself.

While there's a lot to be said for living solo, there's no doubt that living by yourself does place more strain on your purse strings as you have to cover the cost of everything from rent and mortgage payments to utility bills yourself.

However there are a number of ways that you can cut the cost of living by yourself. Here's how:

1. Cut your council tax bill

Council tax is an unavoidable expense

The Rightmove House Price Index for June 2011 has revealed that average UK asking prices for new properties coming to the market saw a 0.6% increase over the past month to now stand at £240,394.

June sees Rightmove record the sixth consecutive monthly rise in new sellers’ average asking prices, up by £1,520 in the past month (0.6%). At the halfway point of 2011 asking price statistics are following a very similar pattern to last year, with overall gains of 8.1% this year compared to 7.4% in the first half of 2010.

However, with such similar market conditions Rightmove predicts that the

Thinking about selling your property? Get the ball rolling with a free house valuation from one of UK Auction List's nationwide auctioneer partners.

We only work with the best performing auctioneers in your local area, who have been selected due to their ability to value and sell properties quickly and efficiently. Finding out the true value of your house in the current market will put you in the best position going forward.

Give us a ring or complete the property enquiry form today and one of our auctioneers will be in touch within 48 hours to discuss your requirements.

A Grade II-listed Georgian house on the banks of the Thames is on the market with a guide price of £6.7 million.

With celebrity neighbours including Rhys Ifans and I’m a Celebrity’s Ant and Dec who each have a home nearby, the four-bedroom Strand on the Green property is awaiting suitably glamorous new owners.

Split over three floors, its 70ft Thames frontage and nine ground-floor windows mean almost every room has a spectacular river view.

The current owners have added an impressive Marston & Langinger conservatory. There’s a sun deck for relaxed enjoyment of the panorama and guests

Landlords’ are showing increasing optimism about the buy-to-let market, according to the latest landlord sentiment survey conducted by LSL Property Services plc.

The company report that 49% of landlords think now is a good time to invest in property, an increase from a year ago (47% and that only 1% of the surveyed landlords believes it is now a good time to reduce their portfolios. In fact 86% of the landlords polled are planning to maintain or expand the size of their portfolios over the next twelve months.

Growing demand for rental accommodation is the main reason for the increase in

The Bank of England has voted to hold rates at 0.5% for the 27th consecutive month.

With the UK economy still looking fragile, the Bank felt it had little choice but to keep rates at their record low in the hopes that the stimulus will eventually translate into strong economic growth.

The move will not be welcomed by more hawkish analysts, who feel a rate hike is needed to stave off the continued threat of inflation.

The consumer prices index (CPI) now stands at 4.5% - more than twice the government's targeted 2% rate - and shows no signs of slipping any time soon.

So what will today

Hard-pressed consumers have been dealt a fresh blow after Scottish Power unleashed what is expected to be a new wave of energy bill rises.

The company said gas tariffs will rise by an average of 19% from August 1, with electricity going up by 10% on the same date. The increases, which will impact on 2.4 million households, are expected to add £173 to the average annual dual fuel bill.

Other suppliers are certain to follow suit in the wake of a sustained rise in wholesale supply costs, which Scottish Power said had jumped 30% since it last increased gas and electricity bills in November.