There has been much talk recently of the rise in the number of mortgage products available to those with small deposits. But the existence of these products is beginning to look rather more theoretical than actual.
If they were really being granted to borrowers, rather than just trumpeted in the press, you might expect to see the number of first time buyers entering the market rising. But you aren't seeing anything of the sort. Instead, according to the latest numbers out from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the number of first time buyers was 17% lower in April than in March: they now make up the lowest proportion of buyers since 2007 (the peak of the bubble, and the time when first time buyers were least likely to be able to afford a house of any kind). The typical first time buyer is still putting down a 25% deposit.
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Is property investment still as safe as houses? Why golden era could be overThe golden era of property is over and investors are better off in the stock market, new research suggests
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What Santander’s takeover of TSB means for customersSantander is set to buy rival TSB for £2.65 billion. What does it mean for customers, and could we see the TSB brand disappear from the high street?
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House prices to crash? Your house may still be making you money, but not for much longerOpinion If you’re relying on your property to fund your pension, you may have to think again. But, says Merryn Somerset Webb, if house prices start to fall there may be a silver lining.
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Prepare your portfolio for recessionOpinion A recession is looking increasingly likely. Add in a bear market and soaring inflation, and things are going to get very complicated for investors, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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Investing for income? Here are six investment trusts to buy nowOpinion For many savers and investors, income is getting hard to find. But it's not impossible to find, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Here, she picks six investment trusts that are currently yielding more than 4%.
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Stories are great – but investors should stick to realityOpinion Everybody loves a story – and investors are no exception. But it’s easy to get carried away, says Merryn Somerset Webb, and forget the underlying truth of the market.
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Everything is collapsing at once – here’s what to do about itOpinion Equity and bond markets are crashing, while inflation destroys the value of cash. Merryn Somerset Webb looks at where investors can turn to protect their wealth.
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ESG investing could end up being a classic mistakeOpinion ESG investing has been embraced with enormous speed and zeal. But think long and hard before buying in, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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UK house prices will fall – but not for a few yearsOpinion UK house prices look out of reach for many. But the truth is that British property is surprisingly affordable, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Prices will fall at some point – but not yet.
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This isn’t the stagflationary 1970s – but neither is it the low-rate world of the 2010sOpinion With soaring energy prices and high inflation, it might seem like we’re on a fast track back to the 1970s. We’re not, says Merryn Somerset Webb. But we’re not going back to the 2010s either.
