10 Downing Street's still worth a bob or two

According to Zoopla, when Tony Blair swept to power in 1997, the much sought after property of No 10 was worth in the region of £1.65 million. It had climbed to a massive £5 million by 2007 before tailing off to a more modest £4.5 million at today’s prices. ... MORE

Save for retirement? No my house is my pension.

How many times have people uttered the fateful words “my house is my pension” over the last decade, if not longer?

What exactly do they think they mean by it? Will their house produce them a living income just by existing? Or do they think (hope) that by the time they retire they can sell their three bed semi for a fortune but buy a cottage in the country for next to nothing pocketing the difference? .... More

Houses are properly priced

There has been much talk in the press and blogs in the last couple of years that houses in the UK are ‘overpriced’. Or that in some areas they are ‘overvalued’. Some even say that they are undervalued in the more exclusive areas such as parts of London. It’s as if they’re saying that there is some sort ‘correct price’ that they should be changing hands for. ... MORE

What housing market?

There is much talk of the current state of the housing market. Either that it is robust, or that it is just about to fold. But looking at the numbers of transactions and mortgage approvals one has to ask if there is any real market to speak of.

Nationwide have announced a 0.7% month on month increase for March, which converts to a 9% rise over the last year. This takes the Nationwide average house price to £164,519. But relatively few properties actually changed hands, something the Nationwide sees continuing this year. .... MORE

A lost generation of home buyers

According to a new poll many young people, as many as 40%, are putting their future life plans on hold until house prices come down to affordable levels.

A YouGov survey, commissioned by the National Housing Federation (NFA), indicates that home ownership dreams have been shattered for many potential first time buyers.

NFA targets £1 billion of mortgage fraud

With an estimated £1 billion per year of fraud out of an industry worth in the region of £144 billion, mortgages are a very attractive vehicle for obtaining money fraudulently. This is despite the Land Registry investing heavily in an anti-fraud programme.

House prices rose in February

House prices actually went up in February

In stark contrast to the Nationwide and Halifax house price indices, the Acadametrics index (AcadHPI) actually rose over the month by 1.9% and now stands at 9.7% up over the last year.

The AcadHPI records all true completion prices across England and Wales .... more