• More Houses needed Jul 01 2008

  The Scottish Government has confirmed its target of increasing the supply of new homes to 35,000 a year despite a virtual halt in new construction among builders.

• Space (not looks) add value Jul 01 2008

  One in five of us plan to make improvements to our home to increase its value or make it more saleable according to the Alliance & Leicester. But what we do to add value may not be what buyers are willing to pay for.

• Rental yields at two year high Jul 01 2008

  Rental yields have hit a two year high, encouraging some buy-to-let landlords to expand their portfolios despite the limited availability of buy-to-let mortgages.

• More Government support for shared equity scheme Jul 01 2008

  A Scottish Government initiative to boost its shared equity scheme and help homeowners at risk of repossession has been broadly welcomed by housebuilders and lenders.

• Scottish economy slows, but grows Jul 01 2008

  Scotland's economy continues to grow, albeit not at the rate seen this time last year. The latest Scotland Business Monitor published by Lloyds TSB shows that a net balance of +11 per cent of businesses reported an increase in turnover in the last three months.

• BBC show seeks rural recruits Jul 15 2008

  Escape to the Country is coming soon to the BBC, and producers of the hit show are looking for urban Scots who dream of relocating to the country.

• Motoring costs lower than in 1988 Jul 15 2008

  The headline may be a surprise, but according to a new report from the RAC, the cost of motoring has actually dropped by almost 20 per cent over the last two decades.

• Fed chief offers cheap money Jul 15 2008

  The UK's economic plight is considerably less than it is in America, where the credit crunch and property price falls have been much more pronounced.

• Home purchase loans rise Jul 15 2008

  Mortgage lending remains subdued, but there was some good news from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) last week.

• House price growth highest in Scotland Jul 15 2008

  The market may be slowing, but Scotland is still leading the way in terms of house price growth. New data from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has highlighted this fact.

• Bank holds rates at 5 per cent Jul 15 2008

  As widely expected, the Bank of England held interest rates at five per cent last Thursday. Experts had been fairly unanimous in anticipating the decision.

• Super-fast broadband on its way Jul 22 2008

  Anyone who's ever sat in front of their computer cursing protracted download speeds will have rejoiced last week, when BT unveiled plans to spend £1.5 billion supplying fibre-optic broadband to around ten million homes by 2012.

• Fuel duty rise scrapped again Jul 22 2008

  With fuel prices rising almost by the week, there was little surprise in last week's announcement that the planned two pence rise in fuel duty has been scrapped.

• ...and fairer banking charges coming? Jul 22 2008

  While economists pondered the significance and likely fallout from Santander's takeover of Alliance & Leicester, a side-issue was forming in the guise of possible action from the Office of Fair Trading over current account banking.

• High street banks to join forces... Jul 22 2008

  Long-standing rumours about the profitability of Alliance & Leicester were laid to rest last week with the announcement that Spanish bank Santander had bought the high street chain for the sum of £1.26 billion.

• ...as rates begin to fall Jul 22 2008

  As of last Friday, the Nationwide cut its rates on mortgages for new borrowers, for the second time in two weeks. The announcement was significant since it hinted at the slowly improving state of mortgage liquidity.

• Kick start for mortgages... Jul 22 2008

  With the mortgage market currently in a fragile state, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has drawn up a plan in an attempt to encourage financial lending and re-ignite the housing industry.

• UK home sales lower Jul 29 2008

  HM Revenue and Customs says that the number of homes in the UK changing hands almost halved in June compared to a year ago.

• Time to back a tracker? Jul 29 2008

  Is it time to think about moving to a tracker, rather than a fixed rate, mortgage?

• Scotland’s population rises Jul 29 2008

  Scotland’s population has reached its highest level since 1983 with births exceeding deaths for the first time since 1996-97.

• Sales slump raises hope of rate cut Jul 29 2008

  Retail sales between May and June fell by 3.9 per cent, the largest single fall in sales since records began in 1986.

• Scottish movers more confident Jul 29 2008

  Scots are more optimistic about the prospects for the property market than any other part of the UK.

View older articles from June 2008

View newer articles from August 2008