Money

Are price falls being exaggerated?
Just how far have house prices plunged in the first year of the credit crunch? The pundits appear to be divided with one claiming that the fall is much smaller than the 10%-plus figure claimed by Halifax and the Nationwide BS.
New opportunity fund launched for 2012 property boom
The closing ceremony is behind us and the handover is complete, now all eyes are on what London can produce in four years time.
Could rent-to-buy scheme save the property market?
A leading letting agent in the north west of England has devised a prototype rent-to-buy scheme intended to overcome the logjam in the housing market by bringing together reluctant landlords and would-be first-time buyers.
Act fast to avoid threat of repossession
With 45,000 repossessions expected during 2008, and some observers predicting the true figure could go much higher, lenders who have already taken back nearly 19,000 homes this year face mounting criticism for their handling of serious arrears cases.
British holiday homes set for comeback
If the credit crunch forces millions of families to take holidays in Britain, our holiday home market - from caravans and wooden lodges to houses and bungalows for semi-permanent occupation - must get its act together fast.
Another body blow for hips
The Government's shock defeat in the Glasgow East by-election could be a further blow for Home Information Packs (HIPs).
Regions hit hard by collapse in new homes output
The collapse in the output of new homes will be most drastic in the North-West, Midlands, and South-East regions of England, and in Wales and Northern Ireland according to figures from the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Anxious vendors switch agents to chase sales
Desperate vendors are trying to increase their chances of selling success by switching estate agents.
Agents warn that fees must rise as sales fall
Faced with a drastic drop in turnover, estate agents are warning vendors that the weakening market means fees may have to rise.
Homeowners win as rents continue to rise
Who wants to buy a house when prices are falling and mortgage rates are climbing? Despite all the doom and gloom, and maybe further house price falls in 2009, homeowners are in a stronger financial position than renters - and their advantages are increasing as rents continue to rise, says a new study from Abbey.