John Charcol

A leading housing market commentator believes prices will rise this year as the market has already reached its bottom.

Brokers insist some of the gloom for prospective mortgage applicants is lifting after Abbey reduced the minimum deposit required to get a homeloan.

Borrowers looking for a mortgage have been urged by brokers to fix their costs for as long as possible.

Mortgage lenders are continuing to cut the cost of fixed rate deals for borrowers. Barclays this week became the latest lender to slash its rates, some of which are down by 0.5% points, following months of Bank of England base rate cuts.