Mortgages

Lenders and estate agents say the Government could have helped first-time buyers by extending their stamp duty 'holiday' in yesterday's Autumn Budget Statement.

The housing market has remained "surprisingly resilient" this month, Nationwide said today, as the average price of a property increased by 0.4% month-on-month.

Banking giant Santander claims it has turned the corner after a torrid past 18 months which has seen it consistently score poorly on customer service.

Competition in the mortgage market for customers with a deposit of just 10% increased today, as HSBC introduced a low-rate deal aimed at attracting first-time buyers.

Wannabe home buyers with small deposits who want a newly-built property will get a helping hand under a new Government scheme.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently called for lenders to offer 30-year fixed rate mortgages and received a barrage of abuse. Simon Webster, from mortgage broker Facts & Figures, below, says it wasn't all nonsense.

The Government will sell Northern Rock to Virgin Money, to create a combined bank with four million customers.

Mortgage rates have already started to creep up and the eurozone crisis could make matters worse.

First-time buyers struggling to find big deposits should be encouraged back into the housing market with a raft of measures to help them clinch a mortgage deal, a report from businesses recommends today.

House prices rose by 1.2% last month as the property market continues to weather the economic storm, mortgage lender Halifax said today.