Second time-buyers stay put

Rising house prices have left people unable to climb off the first rung of the property ladder while compounding the difficulties for first-time buyers.

A study into second-time buyers, released today, has shown that it is not just first-timers who are struggling but also those who have already bought their first home and now want to move.

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Homes mini-boom set to slow

The property mini-boom - which has delivered a half-year run of record mortgage lending - could be about to slow down, according to a report released today.

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Mortgage lending falls in April

Mortgage lending fell back in April, according to industry figuers.

The Council for Mortgage Lending said gross lending last month was £25bn - 12% lower than in March but still 16% higher than a year ago. >>>

Is buying a property abroad easier?

Buying property abroad is more popular than ever, with increasing numbers of people following their dream in purchasing a holiday home, a buy-to-let, or moving lock, stock and barrel to the sun.

If you're planning such a move, read this interesting guide before you buy >>>

How can you save £22,000 off your mortgage?

What could you do with £3? The options for any sum smaller than a £5 are limited nowadays and it seems that no sooner is in your pocket than it's gone.

But if you're a homeowner, for the cost of a sandwich, or a magazine, you could save yourself £22,000 in interest and pay off your mortgage three and a half years early. >>>

Lenders up the ante with bigger loans for first-time homebuyers

Are larger home loans the only way on to the ladder, or a risk too far?

The answer to thousands of first-time buyers' dreams or yet another example of risky lending? Two leading building societies, the Yorkshire and the Newcastle, this week announced they are upping the amounts they will allow first-time buyer couples to borrow in order to help those desperate to get a foot on the property ladder. >>>

Estate Agents Should Be Liscenced

All estate agents should be licensed to show that they are qualified and competent, an ombudsman has said.

Stephen Carr-Smith, Ombudsman for Estate Agents, said it should be made mandatory for estate agents to be licensed before they could join the profession. >>>

The House Valuations Lottery

Estate agents are turning the whole process of selling property into a lottery by offering wildly different valuations on homes, according to a new survey.

Some agents are apparently deliberately overvaluing houses to grab the business. >>>

I Quite Like the Look of This House

I like the look of this house which is in Chellaston, Derby, but doubt very much that I will be able to get a mortgage to buy it.

As I would like my children to go to school in Chellaston, I feel the best way these days is to move within the catchment area, which isn't always possible with todays prices.

Are You In Too Much Debt?

Are you like me worried about your bills, and wondering whether or not you can afford to take out a mortgage?

I found this Debt Test, which helps you find out whether you have - or are likely to have - problems with your borrowing. >>>

Trap For First Time Buyers

First Time buyers are being warned that taking out interest-only loans could cost them thousands of pounds more in the long run. The number of first-time buyers taking out interest-only mortgages has nearly doubled since 2002, and more than one in five - some 62,300 - new first-time loans are now taken out on this basis. >>>

Where to Start

There comes a time in most people's lives when they decide to take the property plunge. Perhaps you've reached the point where you want a place of your own or perhaps you've been renting and had enough of paying someone else's mortgage. >>>

Stamp Duty to Start at £125,000

The threshold for paying stamp duty on property purchases will rise by £5,000 to £125,000, costing the government £40m in forgone tax this coming year.

The move keeps the lowest rate of stamp duty at 1% - but covering properties worth between £125,000 and £250,000. >>>

Dealing with Estate Agents

Dealing with estate agents can be an intimidating experience for the first-time buyer. BBC News offers a brief guide to what rights homebuyers have in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What is gazumping, and why can I be gazumped? >>>

Selling a Home? Slash your Solicitors Fees!

How much should you pay for a solicitor when you sell your home? This week Guardian Money reporter sold his home and his first conveyancing quote from a local solicitor was for £1,050. So we went in search of a better deal - and found that with careful hunting, you can cut the cost of conveyancing in half. >>>