Buy-to-let gone mad or a smart way to invest in property? 126 buyers snap up Surrey home in just 35 minutes on crowdfunding site

126 buyers crowdfund buy-to-let in 35 minutes on Property Partner

A Surrey home listed on a crowdfunding website has been snapped up in little over half-an-hour as appetite for buy-to-let properties shows no signs of abating. The £212,900 two-bedroom flat in Byfleet was placed on the Property Partner platform at 3pm and by 3.35pm was fully funded.

Make sure you choose a tracker that does what it says on the tin: The best and worst funds for following markets

The shadow of camel caravan in Sahara Desert, Ksar Ghilane, Tunisia.


 Image shot 2010. Exact date unknown.

Your returns can also be reduced by the cost of the fund and how well it actually mirrors an index, this is known as tracking error.

Pound jumps towards €1.42 again as euro is weakened by growing fears of Greek debt default and Grexit

Pound jumps towards 1.42 euros as single currency is weakened by Grexit fears

No country has ever left the Eurozone before but investors are preparing for the fallout after Nikos Voutsis - the Greek interior minister - said over the weekend his country does not have €1.6billion owed to the International Monetary Fund due in early June. As ministers and officials lurch from one crisis meeting to the next, investors are flocking to invest the US dollar - the world's number one safe haven currency.

UK manufacturers demand EU referendum be held no later than 2016 to end the uncertainty for business and industry

George Osborne arrives at 10 Downing Street, London, following the Conservativeís victory in the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2015. See PA story ELECTION Main. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

As George Osborne prepares a Treasury study into the tax implications of EU scenarios, members of manufacturers' organisation EEF, say it is not in the UK's long-term interest to wait until 2017.

Half a million households forced to have expensive pre-payment energy meters installed in last six years  

Energy regulator Ofgem confirmed it is investigating the 'reasons behind the increase' in the number of pre-payment meters installed for non-payment of a debt on a warrant visit.

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FTSE CLOSE: Markets slump as Greece teeters on brink of default; US investors spooked at prospect of early rate rise

FTSE CLOSE: Markets slump as Greece teeters on brink of default

The FTSE 100 closed down 82.73 points at 6948.99 as Athens tries to avert a devastating default that could see it thrown out of the euro club. The dire Greek debt situation and Spain's regional election results - which saw the country's anti-austerity parties sweeping to victory in local elections - have caused headaches for investors and top European Union officials alike. A raft of mostly upbeat US economic data has got investors worried that the Federal Reserve will hurry along an interest rate rise.

Retail sales 'bounding ahead' as UK consumers feel the benefits of deflation

The employers' organisation said growth in the volume of retail sales and orders exceeded expectations.

GlaxoSmithKline boss granted breathing space to return UK pharmaceutical giant to growth

GlaxoSmithKline Chief Executive Andrew Witty, speaks at the Global Investment Conference in London on July 26, 2012. 

GSK's nicotine replacement therapies and smoking cessation products include the brands Nicorette, NicoDermCQ and the medicine Zyban. E-cigarettes, metal tubes that heat liquids typically laced with nicotine and deliver vapor when sucked, are transforming the market for smoking cessation products.









REFILE - CORRECTING TYPO
 .  To match Feature HEALTH-ECIGARETTES/QUITTING REUTERS/Neil Hall/Files (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS HEALTH)

The drugs giant, led by Sir Andrew Witty (pictured), this month unveiled a strategic U-turn, shelving plans to offload an HIV joint venture and scrapping the return of £4bn to investors.

U.S. Media billionaire John Malone close to scooping Time Warner for £35bn

Chairman of Liberty Media John Malone attends the Allen & Co Media Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho in this July 12, 2012 file photo.  Malone's Liberty Global Inc struck a deal to buy British cable group Virgin Media, a move that would put the U.S. billionaire up against old rival Rupert Murdoch.  REUTERS/Jim Urquhart   (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS MEDIA)

Malone (pictured) whose Liberty Global European venture gobbled up Britain's Virgin Media, could confirm as early as today he is tabling a cash and shares offer for Time Warner of $195 a share.

SMALL CAP SHARE TIPS: Savannah Petroleum's outlook for 2015 hots up with Agadem Rift Basin project

Investing in oil companies in the current market is the epitome of swimming against the tide. But, there is something to be said for the strategy when taking the long-term view.

VIEW FROM THE CITY: Brussels and Berlin's stiff budget targets put Greeks in a no-growth debt trap

epaselect epa04761785 President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker jokes with tie-less Prime Minister of Greece Alexios Tsipras (L)during arrivals at Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, Latvia, 22 May 2015.  EPA/VALDA KALNINA

Ever since the eurozone debt and banking crisis began, the financial markets have been used to a soap opera of periodic dramas, says economist NEIL MACKINNON.

Are we facing a bond market collapse - and where can safety-minded investors shelter their cash?

Where can safety-minded investors hide from bond market threat?

A bond market wobble earlier this month is causing concern that a far bigger shock is imminent. Financial pundits have warned for years that bonds are wildly overpriced and a crash overdue. So should people be casting about for other places to put their money, and if so what are the best options?

Investors offered chance to buy income at a knockdown price as popular investment trusts trade at a discount

Buy income cheap as investment trusts trade at a discount

All but five of the 26 investment trusts in the AIC's equity income sector can be bought for less than the value of the assets they hold. This is a recent reversal of fortune for many income investment trusts, which had seen their share prices settle at a premium above their net asset value in recent years, as investors chased yields in the low interest rate environment.

We're booking a £1,600 villa and the owners want half now and the rest before we arrive - how should we pay if we're worried about fraud?

I'm booking a villa online, what's the best way to pay to avoid fraud

We are planning on booking a villa for a two-week summer holiday, which will cost £1,600. The owners have asked for a 50 per cent deposit and then the other half the week before we arrive. I am worried about transferring so much money to someone, even though the owners seem honest, how can we protect ourselves if they can't take credit card payments.

The best value mortgage you might not have noticed: Four-year fixed rate deals see biggest cuts with rates falling as low as 1.84%

All types of mortgage have fallen to record lows, but data from Moneyfacts, actually shows it is four-year deals that have seen the biggest drops.

Borrowers shun banks and turn to shops for credit cards, with John Lewis named best for rewards

John Lewis won four out of 13 awards in a recent uSwitch survey, clinching best overall customer satisfaction and value for money. It was also named as the best credit card for rewards.

Can I buy my company premises with my pension and boost my retirement pot?

Can I buy my company premises with my pension?

But pensions have some very powerful tax advantages, which small business owners can use to turbocharge the amount they save for retirement while also giving their company a cash injection now.

Water firm plans to turn sewage into energy: United Utilities taps into 'black gold' that flows through its pipes

United Utilities manages more than 47,000 miles of pipes that carry waste from 3m homes and 200,000 businesses across the North West.

Big Six force climbdown in energy profits storm: Ofgem ditches its controversial set of forecasts as industry hits back

The monthly Supply Market Indicator also predicted the level of customers' bills. Ofgem regularly used the figures to urge householders to shop around for better deals in the energy market.

The Apple Watch will soon become worthless - it's always a good time to buy a classic second-hand watch instead

Why it's always a good time to buy a classic second-hand watch 

The value of classic watches has risen by an average of more than five per cent a year over the past decade, according to the Picollecta Rare Watch Index. This index plots the price movement of 30 of the most popular collectable watches.

Barclays facing explosive allegations it engineered computer systems to rig financial markets

The bank was fined £1.5bn for manipulating foreign currency rates. But this bill could spiral amid fears raised by US regulators that the abuse was systemic rather than the result of a few corrupt staff.

The insurance that can pay the bills if you can't work - experts warn too many people still lack a safety net

More families are choosing to protect their standard of living. Bernie O'Beirne (pictured) suffered a near-fatal stroke a couple of years ago which meant he had to give up work to focus on his recovery.

Jail for gang of eight crooks who raked in £500k by preying on the elderly and posing as lawyers

TONY HETHERINGTON: Jail for gang of crooks who preyed on the elderly posing as lawyers 

An eight-strong gang of crooks who raked in half a million pounds by posing as legal advisers expert in preparing wills and trust deeds has been successfully prosecuted by Nottinghamshire County Council's Trading Standards team. The fraudsters used addresses in London but operated from rented premises in Newark. Ringleader Joseph Croft, 53, was jailed for four and a half years at Nottingham Crown Court, while Alan Appleyard, 71, and his son Matthew, 42, will both serve four years. Joy Bell, 55, who described herself as 'head of legal' but has no qualifications, was given an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service.

TONY HETHERINGTON: 'Dr Mr T, we are very sorry to hear that you are dead...'

Card Protection Plan wrote to my father-in-law, stating that he might be due compensation for his policy. He passed away - and it wrote the cheque out to him.

Untouchable! Investigators suspect fraudster still targeting elderly for scams - but say they can't afford to prosecute after savage cuts

Frank Madden has a history of preying on people in the market for timeshares and holiday clubs. Trading standards officials believe that being on a suspended sentence did not stop him.

'We saved £1,000 a month while living with parents': Your eight step guide to climbing onto the property ladder

Your eight step guide to climbing onto the property ladder

High house prices and stagnant wages mean first-time buyers need to be more determined than ever to secure the keys to their dream property. But help is out there. Follow our eight-step guide to ease the pain of getting on to the first rung of the housing ladder. From saving to Help To Buy, here is the way to make a dream a reality. By living with their parents Daniel Morgans and Amy Flint (pictured) were able to set aside £1,000 a month towards a home loan deposit.

JEFF PRESTRIDGE: Wonga Mk II aiming to do business with the country's 'squeezed middle'

Only time will tell whether Wonga reincarnated has really moved on from its dubious past. I hope so because it is better to deal with a heavily regulated payday lender than a backstreet money lender.

Post Office network in crisis as five-year cash injection from the Government runs out soon

The Post Office network is in crisis like never before. Operators of post office branches - independent sub-postmasters (like Mr Baker) - are being bullied into accepting a pay cut or face closure.

Why sell in May and go away? Here's five promising stocks to BUY this summer - and a look at how last year's tips went

Why sell in May and go away? Five stocks to BUY this summer

'Sell in May and go away, stay away till St Leger Day' is a timeworn piece of advice to investors, but no financial pundit has ever proved whether it's true or not. Instead of engaging in this dusty debate, we prefer to focus on which shares are likely to do well this summer and beyond, however the wider market performs. Ian Forrest, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, suggests five stocks that look a good buy right now and recaps how our summer share tips from last year performed.

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SHARE TIPS: Direct Line, Tate & Lyle and Bloomsbury

Every week we round up the Sunday newspaper share tips. This time, insurer Direct Line, sugar producer Tate & Lyle and publisher Bloomsbury.

MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Direct Line leads the dividend pack in the Dogs of the Footsie portfolio that's beating the market

Though Direct Line only joined the Footsie in September the coming dividend bonanza makes it top dog among our portfolio of pups - the ten highest yielding stocks in the FTSE 100.

Shareholders set to pressure Vodafone to take seriously prospect of £120bn mega-deal to tie up with John Malone's Liberty Global

Shareholders set to pressure Vodafone to take seriously prospect of £120bn mega-deal to

Malone, who's Liberty owns Virgin Media in the UK, last week said the two companies would be a 'good fit'. Vodafone's shares have been rising since, and the group has faced pressure from some of its largest investors to sell off operations in India, Turkey and South Africa, which could be worth £30bn. It should then merge its European business with Liberty, some investors are saying.

Civvy Street firm earns its wings training the next generation of top guns to fly Britain's latest hi-tech jets

City Focus Graphic_.jpg

Today's aircrew are from the X-Box generation, well versed in handling complex computer systems and rapidly adapting to constantly changing technologies.

Consumer confidence dips for first time this year, but households still upbeat thanks to lower energy and fuel costs

Consumer confidence remains at near record levels as households spend less for gas, electricity and fuel than they did 12 months ago, the Lloyds Bank Spending Power Report suggests.

Britain's economy grew faster than Germany, revisions to economic figures expected to show

Growth in the first quarter is expected to be notched up from 0.3 per cent to 0.4 per cent on Thursday. It would also mean the UK's growth rate did not lag behind the eurozone.

My bright idea for a projected bike light has turned into a £1m business: Blaze designer sees sales boom

Projected bike light maker Blaze on target for sales of £1m

Blaze sells an LED light that projects the image of a bicycle on the road up to 20ft ahead of cyclists to alert drivers to the fact they are coming. It tackles a common cause of accidents - vehicles turning in front of a cyclist they cannot see. It was an idea Emily Brooke had while studying product design at the University of Brighton and which led to her travelling to China to make the 109-component laserlight a reality.

Business leaders claim power companies letting down small firms by failing to advise them on how to cut energy consumption

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling for more specially-targeted help for such companies amid fears that underlying costs are unnecessarily high because of the lack of information.

Uk fashion veteran Jeffrey Cooper grabs a stake in handbag and accessories start-up Olive Cooper

Handbags_.jpg

The former cab driver, 75, whose Stirling Cooper boutique, along with Biba and Browns, helped shape fashion in the 1960s, has taken equity in the UK-based handbag and accessories maker.

Lidl retains crown for best value wine while M&S; is branded the 'poorest' in latest league table by experts

Lidl retains crown for best value wine while M&S is branded the 'poorest'

Lidl has retained its crown as the UK supermarket offering the best value wines, with 68 per cent of bottles offering decent value for money, expert findings reveal. Supermarkets offering poor value wines include Marks & Spencer's, Morrison's and Waitrose, where the number of wines offering good value for money has dropped since November 2014. Wines on the shelves of Britain's supermarkets still offer poor value for money in the majority of cases, wotwine's findings suggest.

'The most favourable backdrop to a Budget since 2007': Osborne gets room for manouevre in July Budget as borrowing plunges

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne outside 11 Downing Street, London, before heading to the House of Commons to deliver his annual Budget statement. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday March 18, 2015. See PA story BUDGET Main. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire.

NOTE ALTERNATE CROP

Borrowing fell to £6.8billion in April, down from £9.3billion a year earlier, official figures from the Office of National Statistics show.

Reality vs fantasy: One in seven retirees have no personal pension - but younger generations still nurse hopes of affluent old age

Those with no personal pension savings will have to fall back on the state pension - £6k a year if you have made enough contributions - and other types of support in old age.

Do you need shed insurance? Thefts increase by a quarter in the summer - but millions leave their sheds and garages under-insured

Do you need shed insurance? Millions leave theirs under-insured

Sheds are a prime target because they often contain expensive equipment or tools, but security is often overlooked making them much easier to break into than a house or flat. But even so, households often don't realise that their belongings are not necessarily insured as part of their home insurance.

Monthly rents rise at fastest rate for five years to hit record high as charity warns home ownership among young will slide further

Rents across England and Wales have hit a new all-time high of £774 a month on average according to the latest buy-to-let index from estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains.

Homeowners waiting up to 28 years between house moves as property shortage pushes prices up

A 30 per cent drop in moves by homeowners with mortgages over the last decade is starving the market of housing supplies and driving prices upwards, Hometrack suggests.

Santander closed my account and sent the balance to Lloyds without me knowing

TONY HETHERINGTON: Santander closed my account and sent the balance to Lloyds without me

Ms G.M. writes: Please help. At the start of this month, I went to my Santander branch in Torquay and my account was fine, but last Saturday I received a letter confirming it had been closed and the balance sent to an account at Lloyds. On Monday, I went back to the branch and staff found their error. I was asked to make an official complaint, which I did, and the bank has reopened my account, but with no money. I am a pensioner with no income until the start of next month and I have spent all the cash I had.

Nationwide boss says he's seen no evidence of high-risk mortgage lending by mutuals, despite regulator warning

Andrew Bailey, boss of the Prudential Regulation Authority, said he was watching a rise in high-risk lending closely. But Graham Beale argued he had seen no evidence of stretched lending.

Key to solving housing crisis? Giving smaller housebuilders more financial support, investment bankers say

Adrian Pritchard, a property finance specialist at London-based corporate adviser and financier Nash Fitzwilliams, said tax breaks should be extended to boost them.

Extra room, home office or even a holiday let? What could you do with your garage (if you clear out the junk)

Garages that give you extra vroom in the property department 

Do you still park your car in your garage? If so then you are in a minority. According to RAC Insurance, 62 per cent of motorists don't feel the need to tuck their cars away every night, preferring to use a garage to store junk, tools and garden equipment. Plenty are now converted into extra rooms. Little wonder - it can make sound financial sense.

Double the commute, halve the deposit: Homes £185k cheaper just one hour away from London 

With a budget of £300,000-£350,000, homes in commuter zones also offer nearly 1,000 square feet of space, compared to only 518 square feet in London's zone two.

What's going on while you're waiting on hold? We go behind the scenes of Npower's customer service centre (and find out how to get complaints fast tracked and land some compensation)

Behind the scenes of Npower's customer service centre

We spent a day at Npower's largest customer service centre, learning how a customer service basket case rises to the challenge of becoming the very best. We listen in on calls, quiz the chief executive Paul Massara - and root out the best tricks for getting your complaints dealt with fastest - and how to get the most compensation.

SIMON LAMBERT: Deflation wasn't the authorities' plan so enjoy it while it lasts - because it's inflation that our leaders want

Deflation wasn't the plan all along - our governments need inflation

Wages are rising above the cost of living, savers are getting a real return, and the pound in your pocket buys more. Inflation will be back when falling energy and petrol prices fall out of the equation and the supermarkets eventually stop duffing each other up.

INVESTMENT EXTRA: M&S; is walking a tightrope to recovery - should shoppers be filling their baskets with the retailer's shares?

Pre-tax profit rose to £600m for the 52 weeks to March 28, from £580m, on group sales of £10.3bn. But earnings still fell short of rival Next, and are half the £1bn M&S; posted in 2007.

The Diary of a Private Investor: Why doing nothing can sometimes be the best thing

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'If you can't find any potential investments that you feel are better than existing holdings in the portfolio its best to sit on your hands.' Our columnist John Rosier delivers his latest update.

The trick to using a credit card to improve your finances and get a mortgage: How cards work and when to use them wisely

How credit cards work and when to use them wisely

Credit cards can be a useful money-saving tool if you follow the rules. They can help you spread the cost of purchases over time and improve your credit rating and chance of getting a mortgage.

Is free banking holding back competition? Officials to probe whether customers don't shop for a better deal because bank accounts are 'free'

Companies Reporting...LONDON - JULY 30: Pedestrians walk past a branch of Lloyds TSB, central London, July 30, 2002, in London, England. Lloyds TSB PLC will  be reporting their interim results on August 2, 2002. (Photo by John Li / Getty Images)...FIN...NEWS...London...London...Great Britain...london
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It is yet to decide if the charging method - which means no explicit charge is made for the account, with revenue gathered from overdraft fees and foregone credit interest - distorts the market.

Avocado bathroom suites, woodchip on the walls, strip lighting... Beware the 10 worst property 'improvements' that turn off buyers

Beware the worst top 10 property 'improvements' that turn off buyers

With homeowners living in their property for an average of 14 years, over 50 per cent of respondents said they would choose 'home improvement over making a move'. But over the last 50 years households plumping for the latest artex ceiling fad or pebbledash cladding have run the risk of diminishing the value of their home.

Why borrowing more for that for that new car or conservatory could save you money: Rates on larger personal loans slump to all-time low

Borrowers with a healthy credit record can get a loan for as little as 3.6 per cent, with costs falling every week as the banks battle it out in a price war.

Help! Why has my 'with profits' pension fund shrunk 11% in two years while stocks hit record highs?

Holder of Aegon with profits policy asks
how his 'terminal bonus' could have been cut 46%, drastically reducing his pension pot, while markets reached record highs.

Ten great credit rating myths busted: Living with indebted friends WON'T affect your score - and there's no such thing as a credit black list 

Ten great credit rating myths busted and how you can improve your score

Credit scores are some of the most valuable things we possess, yet there are still countless myths that surround them. For example there is no such thing as a 'credit blacklist' and credit scores do affect job prospects. We debunk ten of the most common credit rating myths. Have you been caught out by any of them?

Has the PPI tidal wave peaked? Claims about mis-sold policies halve in a year - but 'could still take years to work through'

Out of all complaints the FOS dealt with last year - including those relating to PPI, bank charges and mortgages - 55 per cent were resolved in the consumers' favour.

Is this the end for the cheapest mortgages ever? The lowest ever rate home loans start to disappear

Lenders have started pulling some of the lowest ever mortgage deals from the market, pushing the best rates for a five-year fix back above 2 per cent.

The best postcodes for buy-to-let revealed: Forget London, it's Birmingham that pays off when it comes to rents

The best postcodes for buy-to-let yields, capital gains and returns revealed

Data from the property peer-to-peer lending platform LendInvest shows the highest yield rental postcodes can now be found in Birmingham, Ipswich, Liverpool and Glasgow. But postcodes around North and Central London are still delivering the best overall returns on investment. Our maps reveal how returns stack up.

For sale! Family home... and its occupants: Landlords cash in by buying properties with tenants living there (that even sell at a premium)

Landlords are increasingly targeting rental properties which already have a tenant living inside in a bid to preserve their return, research from a lettings agent has found.

House hunters starved of choice will soon get more to pick from, as post-Election surge in properties for sale is forecast

Rightmove map.JPG

In the three months after the last election, properties coming to market increased by 17 per cent, Rightmove said. It has tipped a fresh burst of activity this year too.

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

50 ways to save money....

To clear the average national household debt of £13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of £100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms

Pick the best (and cheapest) investment Isa platform

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Revealed: The world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets - and where the UK stands

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We highlight the world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets, measured on three popular valuation tools and where the UK sits.

INVESTING TIPS: Fund and trust ideas for beginner and cautious investors

Starting out: Fund tips for beginner or cautious investors

If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for income investors

Income investing: Dividends can deliver both a healthy boost to long-term growth and a way to earn from your investments.

Income investing can let you draw on your portfolio or reinvest dividends to build solid growth over time. Our experts give their fund and investment trust recommendations.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for emerging markets

On the up: Emerging markets such as Brazil are where much of the world's growth is expected to be over future years.

If you're looking to add some flair to your investing Isa with emerging markets, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started

When will interest rates rise? Deflation arrives but the 'only way is up' for rates, with a May 2016 hike forecast

When will UK interest rates rise?

Figures from the ONS showed negative inflation of 0.1 per cent in April, as the consumer prices index fell slightly year-on-year. A mild dose of deflation is not forecast to change the outlook for rates, however, with inflation expected to soon pick back up again and a late spring 2016 rise on the cards.

Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2015

"No smoking" sign on a wall --- Image by © Christopher Stevenson/Corbis

We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers. This is essential Isa reading and is kept up-to-date throughout the year

What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.09% as homeowners get golden opportunity to lock in

Mortgage rates.jpg

If you are looking for a mortgage, rates have never been lower. We run the rule over the top deals available and whether now is the time to fix.

Looking for a better bank? This is Money's five of the best current accounts

Best five: which current accounts offer the best perks?

How hard does your bank account work for you? Here's our pick of the best accounts to make your money work harder, cut down on fees, or get free stuff.

What next for house prices? House prices rise across the UK but London has caught a chill

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House prices are rising across the UK but London has caught a chill - property in the capital remains expensive but prices are slipping back from their peaks. We look at the latest figures.

Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors

Ten tips for buy-to-let

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

Best paid UK jobs 2014: Compare your pay to the national average in the league table of salaries across 350 trades and professions

Best paid UK jobs 2014 Compare your pay to the national average

The influence of financial services on the economy is spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year's official list of highest earners. According to the detailed 2014 annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school. Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.

Premium Bonds winners

May 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 206QY340187 Essex
£1,000,000 171CC211230 Nottinghamshire
£100,000 58SJ000432 Cumbria
£100,000 201XK149320 Southampton
£100,000 170HW382258 Nottinghamshire
£100,000 151HY367580 Birmingham
£50,000 38XV216175 North Yorkshire
£50,000 234MW812497 Norfolk
£50,000 233CR197829 Surrey
£50,000 231XA551717 Southampton
£50,000 230DC470845 Edinburgh
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Which shares will deliver the best return for investors over the next five years?

Which shares will deliver the best return for investors over the next five years?

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  • UK 579 votes
  • Europe 131 votes
  • Emerging markets 154 votes
  • Japan 80 votes
  • China 90 votes
  • India 174 votes
  • Smaller companies 111 votes

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