Happy New Year everyone!  We hope that you had a thoroughly enjoyable break and looking forward to 2015!

Latest analysis of the property market has suggested that this year is THE year to buy property, either to live in or for investment, and auctions are going to be a tempting option for many people due to a number of advantages.

People buy at auction for lots of reasons. They may want to move quickly or they could be looking for a plot of land to build on, a repossession, or quite simply they want a quick purchase without the risk of gazumping. Also, many buyers looking for investments buy

UK house prices rose by an average of £16,000 - or 8.5% - in 2014, according to the mortgage lender Halifax.

The research, based on data from its own lending, suggests prices in Greenwich in south east London surged by almost 25%.

Policymakers have warned of the dangers of a housing bubble developing.

The government insists the Bank of England has the tools it needs to prevent such a problem.

The Halifax says the average UK home now costs £209,428, although data from other lenders and official sources differ.

It says nine out of the 10 areas with the biggest rises this year are in London. The

A new investment trust is set to launch, which allows you to place buy-to-let property investments directly into your pension.

The Mill Residential REIT, launched by the Mill Group, is the first to invest solely in UK buy-to-let residential property. Mill Group claims that this trust has been designed for investors keen to gain exposure to buy-to-let property, without taking on the risks and hassles of becoming amateur landlords.

So what is a REIT? And is this a smart way to get some property in your pension?

Since 2007, UK investors have been able to invest in commercial property via

Leading estate agents Aston Mead are advising house-hunters in Surrey and Berkshire to snap up a property in the first few months of 2015.

Managing Director Adam Hesse says that canny buyers should consider purchasing a property in the months between January and the general election.

He explained: “The market has been somewhat off colour since last summer – and with the election coming up in May, we are more than likely going to have subdued conditions until the result is announced. The rules of supply and demand mean that fewer buyers at this time of year will lead to prices being suppressed

The most desirable place to live in the UK has been named as Hart in Hampshire.

The district's residents were found to be the healthiest and live the longest, with a high employment rate.

Surrey's Elmbridge and Winchester in Hampshire came second and third on the annual Halifax quality of life survey's top 50 list.

It was dominated by areas in south east England, and Hambleton, Yorkshire, was the only place in northern England to make the list at number 50.

The survey looked at factors including life expectancy, crime rates, education and weather.

It is the fourth year in a row that Hart has

Just a quick note to wish you a very merry Christmas, and we hope that wherever you are and whatever you're doing, you have a thoroughly enjoyable day!

Off to put the turkey in the oven now!

Newcastle based auction firm iam-sold has announced significant expansion plans for 2015. The company is expanding into Scotland, aiming for further growth in the North West, and launching a range of new products. Since its launch five years ago, the company - founded by Jamie Cooke and Ben Ridgway - has sold over 5200 properties and raised in excess of £440m. “We are very excited about the expansion of iam-sold – it will offer our partners a great range of services that are forward thinking and complementary, and, at the same time, give the public a better range of options to

Tens of thousands of young Britons will be offered the chance to buy their first home with a hefty discount by Prime Minister David Cameron, a scheme he hopes will boost his re-election chances for May next year.

With less than five months to go before what is shaping up to be an unusually close election, Cameron and his Conservatives are keen to show voters that the steady economic recovery they have presided over can, if sustained, lift living standards.

"Under this scheme, first-time buyers will be offered the chance of a 20% discount, unlocking home ownership for a generation," Cameron

West Country auctioneer Symonds and Sampson has announced the results of its final auction of the year, which attracted 247 bids across 16 lots. Taking place at a packed Digby Hall in Sherborne, the auction boasted a catalogue with an eclectic mix of properties including land with building potential, agricultural land, houses for improvement and investments. The greatest excitement of the day was for Corner Ground at Hazelbury, a single storey cottage for renovation with outbuildings and gardens in a rural location.  Symonds and Sampson said that in the run up to the event, it was

Grosvenor Crescent in London has been named as the most expensive street in Britain.

The sweeping Regency street tops a list compiled by Lloyds Bank: its Grade II-listed houses change hands for an average of £16.9m. In May 2013, a house there sold for £15.7m, and a three-bedroom flat is on the market for £11.75m.

House prices rose rapidly in the capital at the start of this year, and the cost of homes on the most desirable streets has risen sharply. Land Registry data shows that prices in Westminster, which includes Grosvenor Crescent, are 18% higher than a year ago.

For the first time