How an online estate agent could save you a small fortune: But would you be a DIY seller to get a cheaper flat-fee?

Could an online estate agent save you a fortune?

Rocketing property prices are pushing thousands of homeowners to sell through cheap online estate agents. Traditional High Street agents charge sellers a percentage of the sale price of their property - so the more your home is worth, the higher your fee. But would you take the low-cost DIY route?

Homeowners rush to equity release as warning is sounded over borrowers stuck with an interest-only timebomb

Model of house on pile of copper coins

Around one million homeowners are lumbered with interest-only mortgages that they don't know how to repay.

Brits expect to buy their 'forever' home by the age of 44 - and one in ten would spend £30k over the asking price to secure that property dream

While the dream of buying a 'forever' home lives on for some, one in three people aged 55 or over believe that no such place exists, research by Sarah Beeny's estate agency Tepilo suggests.

Up to 30,000 Britons can claim compensation after Spanish government forced to change 'unfair' inheritance tax laws on holiday homes

Up to 30,000 Britons with holiday homes in Spain could still be due compensation from its government after they were hit with 'unfair' inheritance tax charges.

The 100-year club: The professions where it would take at least a CENTURY to save a home deposit revealed

For many who work in the UK's key occupations getting on to the housing ladder is a pipe dream as it would take literally hundreds of years to save for the deposit.

Britain's first-time buyers face one of the toughest property markets in Europe... but Luxembourg is worse

In the UK nearly nine in 10 people said that it is becoming increasingly hard for first-time buyers to buy a house.

Want to buy a home with a small deposit? Here's how to get the best mortgage and avoid the traps

Pictures by Howard Walker. 07970-809718...FAO  Ben Green. Picture Desk...17th July 2015...Picture shows Sarah Drewery and Ryan Fletcher who are first time buyers outside their new home in Newark...See words by Neil Simpson.

If you are hoping to buy your first home, there are still plenty of low rate mortgages on offer. Sarah Drewery and Ryan Fletcher, pictured, got £1,000 cashback.

The town where families are having to spend £13,000 just to sell their house... because the 'bargain' dream homes came with a catch

To the shock and fury of residents in Cramlington, Tyne & Wear, the dream homes they thought were a bargain came with a very big catch - in this privately-owned town leasehold homes dominate.

Why won't our lender cancel half of the mortgage on our cottage after my partner's death?

Why won't our lender cancel half of the mortgage on our cottage after my partner's death?

My partner died in September last year, so I asked our lender Mortgage Agency Services to cancel her half of the mortgage on our cottage in the Yorkshire Dales. However, the firm says it will not do so, and that I still owe the full amount. I feel this is wrong and that the debt should be reduced by half.

Cash-strapped homebuyers search for 30-year mortgages in attempt to minimise monthly repayments as rate hike looms

A woman walks past an estate agent's window display on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge in London, England.  
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has given his strongest warning yet about the dangers to Britain's economy posed by the booming housing market saying that the market represented the biggest risk to financial stability and the long-term recovery.  

(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

Housebuyers are increasingly searching for mortgages with over 30 year terms or more in an attempt to keep their monthly repayments affordable.

From seagulls to wasps, don't get stung by pests: How to deal with a home menace - and what insurance covers

Copyright  PICTURE BY DALE CHERRY 11/08/15   ..for Financial section.. pic shows  Harrison Walne with his wasp traps and his bee hive which is under attack by wasps.

A plague of pests is descending on homes this summer - wreaking havoc and expensive damage on those who fail to fight back.

Number of households remortgaging nearly DOUBLES as borrowers shelter themselves from future base rate hikes

There has been a huge surge in remortgaging activity in the last month as homeowners look to shelter themselves from a lurking base rate rise.

What's in an address? Properties with 'lane' in the title are typically £100k more expensive than those on a 'street'...

An exterior view of a PG Wodehouse at Dunraven St Savills, £4.75m 



PG Woodhouse.jpg
PG Wodehouse Mayfair Flat
 http://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbmyrsmas150007

There are some regions where, however, this does not apply, with London's most valuable properties on 'streets' and Scotland's homes in 'closes' carrying the highest prices.

The most heart-breaking mis-selling scandal of all: Richard and Rita Kauffman are losing their home even though they're NOT behind on their mortgage

Is the housing market thawing? Properties listed for sale up a quarter in last month to reach highest level for two years

The number of properties listed for sale per estate agency was up a quarter in July compared to the previous month, according to latest data from professional body the NAEA.

Tax haul falls as sweeping changes to stamp duty hits sales of expensive homes, HMRC data shows

A pedestrian looks at information leaflets of residential properties displayed for sale in the window of a Savills estate agents in Guildford, U.K., on Monday, June 23, 2014. As Britons brace for the Bank of England to announce steps to restrain the housing market this week, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander dismissed talk of a bubble. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Stamp duty was cut for most house purchases in December last year, but the rate for the most expensive properties, worth £1.5million or more, was pushed far higher.

'Second steppers' caught in new home loans - the families who would need to double their mortgage to move home

couple on a log.jpg

New and growing families are fighting over a few properties with higher costs to bear. The Mail on Sunday explains why 'next-steppers' face such difficulties and how to overcome them.

Could I lose out on our dream property if the estate agent snubs me because I haven't used their financial services?

In the past month, I have been house hunting. Each estate agent branch I have entered has asked if I need financial advice. Should I take it to enhance my buying position?

The question of a generation: How will our children and grandchildren ever afford to own their own home?

How will our children and grandchildren ever afford to own a home?

There are 20 properties in the window of Connells estate agents in Watford - just one is available for a first-time buyer for less than £250,000. The town is no different to the 34 others in England identified by Shelter as having no affordable two-bed homes for families. Victoria Bischoff goes on the first-time buyer trail.

London property prices are being inflated by foreign criminals laundering billions in dirty money, warns crime agency

The view of City of London from a Canary Wharf building.
London skyline showing Skyscrapers - The Gherkin, The Cheesegrater and The Walkie Talkie.
Picture by GLENN COPUS

Donald Toon of the National Crime Agency has said he is alarmed by the number of homes registered to complex offshore corporations.

Brussels law threatens cheap home loans for millions of households, experts warn 

Experts warn that the EU rules could lock millions of households in Standard Variable Rate mortgages, which can cost hundreds of pounds extra a year.

SECRET DIARY OF A FIRST-TIME BUYER: We've found a house - it's grotty, has no original features - and we think it's perfect

two illustrations in cms credited to 'Annie

'It feels slightly unromantic buying a first home that it's really very hard to get excited about, but it's actually proved very useful.' Our first-time buyer shares her experiences.

Would you pay £715k for a studio flat in a London tower block? The Versace-designed flats that cost more than an eight-bed mansion in Devon...

A new development popping up in Vauxhall, London, will have studio flats starting from a whopping £715k. This is Money looks at what else you could snap up for that price tag.

What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.05% as homeowners get golden opportunity to lock in

A stock photo of a miniature toy house .

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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.

As Bank of England hints that interest rates could rise by the end of the year: should borrowers lock into a fixed-rate mortgage now?

BofE governor Mark Carney has hinted interest rates are set to rise from the 0.5% they have been glued at since March 2009 - and this could mean mortgage rates have hit the bottom.

The ground rent on my leasehold flat just went up by 25% after only five years: Is the freeholder entitled to do this?

The ground rent on my leasehold home just went up by 25% Can the freeholder impose such a

I bought my maisonette with 125-year leasehold five years ago. My ground rent then was £200 per year but I have just had a letter advising me it is to be increased to £250, which is a massive jump. How legal is this? Combined with the service charges it amounts to just over £700 a year. How feasible is it to buy the freehold or extend the lease in the future?

Value of prime London homes up a lowly 2% in last year to lag behind Bangkok, Delhi and Nairobi, upmarket estate agent says

House prices in London have nudged ahead by two per cent in the last year, according to the latest quarterly index of luxury property from Knight Frank.

Number of house hunters hits highest level for a decade thanks to record low mortgage deals - but property supply is thinning

There was a rapid surge in the number of people searching for a property last month and it means demand has reached its highest level for more than a decade, data suggests.

Get ready for rising interest rates and save THOUSANDS by switching your mortgage now to lock in cheap deals 

Rates could start to climb soon, so what should borrowers and savers do? Thomas Marsh and Megan Brown remortgaged and are putting the savings towards a wedding.

The luxury flats in the heart of London's financial centre... where British buyers get first refusal

Extension heaven or planning free-for-all? Osborne tells London councils to let homeowners match neighbours with extra storeys and converted lofts

Builders building loft extension in suburban house North London

The plans outlined by the Treasury are part of a set of reforms aimed at relaxing planning rules in order to boost housebuilding and improve the UK chronic shortage of homes.

RBS calls for new rules to force lenders to include fees in mortgage interest rates when advertising deals

Mortgage rates and charges leaflet

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS.


Image shot 2012. Exact date unknown.
CN0DN2

The move is part of the bank's drive to bring an end to price promotions. Critics argue that they lure customers into taking out discounted products that end up costing more in the long term.

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

Want to exchange contracts fast? Then follow these top five tips for pushing through your property transaction 

Want to exchange contracts fast? Then follow these top five tips for pushing through your

The pre-election uncertainty may be over and even the sun has made an appearance, but that doesn't mean there won't be major hurdles to overcome leading up to exchanging contracts on a new property. Even when both the seller and buyer are keen to exchange quickly, things can grind to a halt. And seasoned home-movers are not immune. The time between an offer being accepted and exchanged can be as quick as six weeks in England and Wales.

Home purchases ease back as property market revival hits a speed bump - but new mortgage rates hit record low

People look at propeties advertised in an estate agent's window in London, England on October 8, 2013. 
The Government launched their 'Help to Buy' scheme, which will enable eligible first time buyers to buy a home with only a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing a further 15%.  

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08:  
(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The UK property market's revival hit a speed bump, as mortgage approvals fell unexpectedly in May, but borrowers are benefiting from new mortgage rates at a record low.

Could you unlock the value in your home for less? Pensioners who took equity release can switch their loan to a cheaper deal

DGXCRP Padlock having the shape of a house, home security concept

Thousands of older homeowners who unlocked cash from their property may be able to slash their interest bills.

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

A Surrey property 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.

Biggest shortage of homes for sale in nearly six years is pushing UK house prices higher, say property experts

A general view of 'for sale' signs. 
The Government's new Help to Buy scheme will enable people to buy a home with a deposit of less than £10,000 in more than half of regions across country, a property website has found.
Aspiring home buyers will from this week be able to start applying for the second phase of the flagship initiative, which will offer state-backed mortgages to UK borrowers with deposits as low as 5%. The scheme, which has sparked fears of a new housing bubble, will give people a helping hand to buy a new or existing home worth up to £600,000. 


File photo dated 12/10/10 of PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday October 7, 2013. See PA story MONEY Help. Photo credit should read: Rebekah Downes/PA Wire

The news will pile further pressure on the new Conservative government to do something to boost building of new homes as April's fall in new instructions was the steepest since May 2009.

A toast to the coast! Holiday or all-year round, homes by the sea that do not cost a fortune

Brynowen Holiday Park in West Wales

It can be surprisingly affordable to own a home by the sea, says Graham Norwood.

Could you ditch bricks and mortar and buy a canal boat? It costs a fraction of a house but it's not all plain sailing

Olivia Slack and Rob Wainwright,  HANDOUT pics

A 50ft narrowboat can be purchased for as little as £20,000. In contrast, the average house costs £200,000. But living on a boat is not that simple, we explain the essentials.

Home cinema, gold leaf plasterwork and even a hair salon: Principal House goes on sale

JLL_Principal House_Ext.jpg

Sam Malin, a geophysicist who has set up several oil and gas exploration companies, and Irene Major, a former Miss Cameroon, bought Principal House in 2006 for £565,000.

House prices up 4.6% over year, says Land Registry, with average property values in London FIVE TIMES higher than North East

Shortage of homes set to fuel new price boom as figures show enquiries from potential new buyers are surging

File photo dated 17/02/09 of a woman looking at houses for sale at an estate agents. Nearly one million people could have their homes repossessed because they have no plan to pay off their interest-only mortgages, Citizens Advice has warned. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday September 4, 2015. The charity said "time is running out" for an estimated 934,000 homeowners after research found they had made no arrangements to pay off their debt when their mortgage term ends. See PA story MONEY Mortages. Photo credit should read: David Cheskin/PA Wire

Figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors due this week are expected to show that the number of people putting their properties on the market is falling.

House price growth slows in August to weakest annual rate for more than two years - but values are nudging towards £200k

24 St Philips Road, Hackney, London. Where house prices have sharply risen in the last year.

Property values rose by 3.2 per cent in August compared with a year ago, which is down from 3.5 per cent in July and the weakest annual growth since June 2013.

August house prices are the strongest since before financial crisis because of shortage of homes put up for sale

Multiple estate agent for sale signs outside a Georgian property in Greenwich, UK during the credit crunch, October 2008.

Online estate agent Rightmove shows the price of property coming to market was down by just 0.8 per cent (-£2,258) in August compared to a post-credit-crunch average fall of 1.5 per cent.

House prices in UK's largest cities jump by largest amount in 11 years - with Oxford and Cambridge the biggest risers

With demand continuing to outstrip supply, house prices in major cities increased by 4.3 per cent to an average of £227,100 in the three months to July, Hometrack said.

Demand for mortgages is rising 'significantly' as rates fall to record lows, says Bank of England

Boost for first-time buyers as buy-to-let landlords' profits are slashed in crackdown on mortgage interest tax relief

Landlords cashing in buy-to-let properties jumped due to pre-election 'knee-jerk' reaction - especially in London

The number of landlords selling buy-to-let properties increased in April after many were spooked in the run-up to the general election, according to ARLA.

Tenants forced to fork out typical £1,700 when they move home - with almost £300 of this demanded in often questionable fees

Research by the house share website SpareRoom has found that almost half of all tenants are asked to pay so-called 'admin costs' of £298 - money then pocketed by agents and landlords.

Should we move back in with parents to save for our first home - or will lenders look more favourably on us if we are meeting monthly rent payments?

Do we have the right to ask for a dummy CCTV camera or alarm box for our rented home - and would it make it safer?

Last month, I had my car stolen from outside the rental house I live in with my partner. We have asked for our landlord to up security with a dummy camera or alarm - but he isn't keen on the idea.

I can't get planning permission for my loft conversion - but if a bed still fits in, can I call it a bedroom anyway? 

Phillip and Ann Van Pragg. Property Mail feature: Can ex-council homes ever be truly des res? Semi, Findon, East Sussex: £275,000. Original cost: £25,000. Phillip and Ann Van Pragg, who are oth in their 40s, are the second people to won this house after it was bought ten years ago under the right-to-buy scheme for just £25,000. The couple bought the property from the first private owner four years ago for £90,000, but since then prices have rocketed in around this Sussex village. Findon is one of the few communities in the area not to have been overrun by commuters, and it has three thriving pubs as well as restaurants and shops. Patchings: 01903 244944picture    NICK SKINNER
Phillip and Ann Van Pragg with the former semi detacjed council house they have converted into a stylish modern home in Findon Sussex.
Master bedroom in loft conversion.

I've worked out I would still be able to put a double bed up there and there would be enough height in the centre of the room for anyone to stand up. My question is - can I still call this a bedroom?

From building a conservatory to getting a new kitchen - which home improvements deliver the best return?

Splashing out on home improvements not only makes your house a more enjoyable place to live, but it if done right it is also likely to give its value a boost.

We are thinking of using our life savings to start a B&B; after we retire: what are the pitfalls and how do we maximise our chances of success?

My husband and I are on the cusp of retirement. We have been talking about our future and have decided we want to run a bed and breakfast. Where do we start?

On the hunt for a home? The first-time buyer's guide to getting a mortgage

The first-time buyer's guide to getting a mortgage

Are you hoping to get a foot on the property ladder? This Is Money's step-by-step guide explains how first-time buyers can get the best deal on their mortgage, make sure they pick the right choice for them and avoid the market's traps. We explain what new buyers need to know, and how they are being offered assistance from the Government in the form of Help to Buy.

How to pay off your mortgage early

House made of money

Paying off your mortgage early is one of the best investments you can make, slashing thousands off what is likely to be your biggest debt. See our guide

Mortgage affordability calculator: How much you can borrow - and the cost of interest-only vs repayment

Sold Sign

Find out how much you can afford to borrow with This is Money's mortgage affordability calculator, and see the difference between capital repayment and interest-only deals

How to avoid mortgage arrears

Act now: If you feel yourself slipping into the red, do something before you have to sell your home

Read our steps for avoiding mortgage arrears if you feel you are about to fall into the red

How to get the cheapest life insurance: tricks of the trade

Woman using calculator

Choosing the right way to buy life insurance can save you thousands of pounds. We explain the trick to getting the best deal

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