Cash-strapped banks are offering to write off huge amounts to encourage landlords and property investors to remortgage to another lender. Some banks are offering up to 25% of any mortgage debt as an incentive.

The big freeze sent a chill through the housing market as sales slumped to an eight-year low in December. Estate agents say sales plummeted to just an average two per branch for the month – the lowest figure since January 2003.

Business guru Gerry Robinson is turning his talents to solving inheritance tax and estate planning problems for families in a new TV show. The new six-part series ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ starts on BBC2 tonight (January 14) with a look at families who want to split their money between their children and favourite […]

This is a story of how I will quadruple my gross annual rent in 2011 on a £120,000 property.

The Bank of England base rate remains unchanged despite economic pressures to step up a gear. The Bank’s monetary policy committee voted to keep the rate at 0.5% for a record 22 consecutive months.

The buy to let mortgage war is hotting up as more lenders cut rates as they grapple with each other to grab a larger share of the market. Landlords are not likely to make property investment mortgages easier to access – lenders are just vying with each other to attract business to their companies rather […]

Landlords can have a say about government reforms on local housing benefit for private tenants by taking up an invitation from the Residential Landlords Association (RLA). The RLA has sent out a plea to thousands of members to participate in an online survey.

Many landlords are worried that they will face problems paying their buy to let mortgages as more tenants are struggling to pay their rents.

A leading buy to let mortgage lender has warned landlords to watch out for an email scam. A bogus email seemingly sent by Platform Home Loans asks property investors for a processing fee and identification details that lets the lender release mortgage funds.

Commercial investors are celebrating average property values increasing by 8.9% and returns of 16.1% for 2010.

The two new topics will be: Cautionary Tales – this will include Case Studies from a panel of landlords and professional advisors explaining how they or their clients lost money and what they now do differently.

Buy to let lenders keen to attract new landlords have released several broker-only products with some keen incentives. Although most industry experts have predicted availability of funds will remain tight for several months, some lenders want to broaden their market share by extending borrowing to buy to let investors.

Property price rises and falls added up to the average home losing £110 in value every week last year, according to mortgage lender the Halifax. The average house price at the end of December was £162,435 – down £5,741 across the year and representing a drop of just 1.6% for the 12 months.

Two of the UK’s largest buy to let mortgage providers have introduced a criteria not to accept mortgage applications for properties purchased through property sourcers.  This has angered many people who don’t have the time to source properties for themselves or the necessary negotition skills.

This week I’ve been involved in a group debate with three people who hide their identity on a popular property investors forum. The people on the opposite side of the debate consider me to be a property Bull and themselves to be Bears.  They do not invest into property.  One went under the handle “Wisebear”.

Property developers, investors, and letting agents running limited companies face a shake-up in the way they file financial reports with the taxman from April.

Despite uncertain house prices, a staggering 35 new property millionaires woke up every day last year to find their homes had hit the seven-digit landmark.

Two out of three law firms dealing with conveyancing and property are expected to leave the market during the next 12 months. Some fear the lack of competition in the market may lead to rising costs that will hamper an already fragile housing recovery. Lawyers are feeling the squeeze from three sides –

Property investors find the complicated rules that govern licensing and planning for shared housing – legally termed a ‘house in multiple occupation’ or an ‘HMO’ – a nightmare to navigate.

Property investors refurbishing and furnishing homes to let can cut costs by searching online for bargains. Savvy property people are already buying big ticket items like kitchens and bathrooms from online stores. E-Bay is the traditional home of the penny-pincher and still attracts millions of buyers and sellers.

Inheritance Tax is unfair and unpopular and should be scrapped in favour of a new ‘gift tax’, argues an influential think-tank. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) claims inheritance tax (IHT) is too easy to sidestep for the wealthy and estates are rarely charged at the IHT rate of 40%.