For the third month in a row the Abbey National Mortgage Index has shown a rise in the appeal of five year fixed rate mortgages to consumers.
From the survey carried out by the Abbey National there has been a 6 percent increase in those ready to go for a five year fixed rate mortgage if they were remortgaging tomorrow. The figure stands at 30 percent this month, compared with 24 percent and 12 percent in the two months previously.
A lot of the interest in these mortgages will be coming from those with existing fixed rate deals that are set to expire say the Abbey National. Having already enjoyed the security of a fixed rate mortgage these customers will take another one given the opportunity.
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With all the different DIY and property shows on television it is perhaps no surprise that they have inspired the nation to get their hands dirty and get into DIY. This is what the Alliance and Leicester found.
Decorating is top of the list for improving the appearance of the home, closely followed by installing a new bathroom and changing the flooring. The Alliance and Leicester though suggested loft conversions or fitting a new kitchen would be the best options for increasing the value of the home. In the past these have often been funded through the mortgage though this may not be as accessible now.
At the end of the day it comes down to the balance between enjoying living in a property and making it more valuable and desirable when it comes to selling. This is the dilemma every property owner faces say the Alliance and Leicester, but at the end of the day a home should be just that.
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The latest Halifax house price report showed a slide of 1.7 percent for the month of July, taking the overall decrease for the year to date to 8.8 percent.
A Halifax spokesman said that increasing demands on consumers income as well as much tighter mortgage lending criteria is making it very difficult for people to get into the market, with a natural decline in prices to try and stimulate interest.
On the topic of mortgage approvals, which really drive the housing market, they are down by almost 70 percent compared with the same time last year according to Halifax figures. This leads to the real market, that is those who can finance a move, shrinking considerably and in many cases almost cutting off completely the first time buyer.
