mortgage

Reports of improving prospects for the housing market are misplaced, according to research suggesting banks are upping the number of new mortgages requiring giant deposits.

A Government scheme allowing households at risk of repossession to defer interest on their mortgage payments has today gone live, though some major lenders have opted to offer their own alternative.

The number of new mortgages approved by lenders rose slightly in February, although activity in the market remains low, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Sesame is embarking on Mortgage Extra Live, its latest round of regional mortgage events for advisers, which will focus on business development and diversifying into new product areas.

There will be 30% fewer mortgages in 2009 compared with last year if current trends continue, experts say.

The Government has reached a mortgage market crossroads, with Northern Rock at risk as a result of its plan to offer more mortgage products, Datamonitor warns.

The Government plans to inject up to £14bn into the UK mortgage market through nationalised lender Northern Rock, ministers have announced today.

More than 60,000 individuals will run the risk of becoming "unmortgageable" by declaring themselves bankrupt this year, Moore Blatch predicts.

Mortgage brokers are being warned to ensure they complete thorough due diligence checks on claims management companies before entering into any agreement.

The number of live mortgage schemes dropped a further 20% in the past month, according to figures from Mortgage Brain.