The amount of money being advanced to first-time buyers (FTBs) in Scotland is continuing to climb, new research has shown.

According to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the second quarter of this year saw a total of £630 million advanced to FTBs in the country, which was 54% higher than the first quarter.

It was shown that this amount also represented a 40% climb on the same period in 2012.

The report revealed a total of 6,500 loans were taken out by Scottish FTBs across the second quarter of 2013 - 33% higher than during the same timeframe last year and marking

Mortgage brokers and intermediary lenders in the UK are united in their concern that inflated house prices are the gravest threat to the success of the Help to Buy scheme.

According to the latest outlook report from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) almost two thirds of intermediary lenders and brokers, 60% and 59% respectively, single out a house price bubble as the most likely factor that may undermine the government scheme.

The research shows lenders already anticipate a 2.7% increase in the average house price by the end of the year, pushing it to £166,418 according to

Falling into disrepair is a risk for more than one in ten homes in Britain.

People eager to sell their home may want to consider whether carrying out major improvements are required before they are able to attract potential buyers.

New research from Halifax Home Insurance has shown that more than one in ten homes in Britain (11%) are at risk of falling into disrepair, while minor works are needed on around half of the nation's properties.

The report found that 28% of homeowners view themselves as home maintenance enthusiasts, but only 31% believe they have the ability to make sure basic

Thinking about selling at auction? We are now undertaking property valuations for entries into our next round of auctions taking place in late September and October.

There is no faster way of selling property. The process can take as little as six weeks from instructing us through to an exchange of contract. Depending on the agreed completion period, generally 20 working days, the full funds are available. Financial pressures, relocation or other time –related disposals can easily be accommodated within the parameters of a sale by auction.

So if you are thinking about selling and your property

As estate agents report a post-recession boom in house prices, Christopher Middleton reports in the Telegrah the six best investment hot spots.

Wales

A 4.3% year-on-year price rise is reported for Wales, which previously saw some of the UK’s largest house price falls during the recession. “Activity in July was much better than in June,” says Nigel Jones of John Francis Estate Agents in Carmarthen. “Sales agreed were up by eight per cent, and sales exchanged by 11%t.”

West Midlands

This area has seen the greatest number of interested buyers since records began in April 1999. Both new stock and

Estate Agent Today has reported that estate agents are being warned that buyers and sellers will continue to experience “lengthy waits” for valuations and surveys, as well as delays in conveyancing, for the foreseeable future.

Conveyancing Alliance Group, a conveyancing supplier, said it is vital for agents to manage expectations as delays in reaching exchange and completion continue to grow.   The firm says it has noticed an increasing number of potential transactions being hindered by lengthy waits for valuations and surveys to be carried out.   John Philips, sales director at

Over the weekend we caught up on an interesting article in last Thursday's, The Guardian, by Adam Mirley (director of planning and development at Lambert Smith Hampton), which we thought we'd share... it certainly caused some debate in our office this morning - you might agree or disagree with the points raised, however it is certainly food for thought.

Today we have two property crises running simultaneously: housing and retail. Britain faces the worst housing shortage in decades, while 54 retailers went into administration last year, leaving a blight of empty storefronts on the nation's high

Figures showing that house prices had risen by almost £10,000 in a year revealing that house prices are 4.6% higher than a year ago – and are rising at their highest rate for three years, according to the Halifax. Months of steady rises mean the national average property price stands at £169,624, which represents a sharp rise on the £160,428 of a year ago. However, the findings confirm recent studies from Nationwide building society and estate agents which suggested that London and the South are driving the market. Martin Ellis, Halifax’s housing economist, said: ‘House prices are

According to latest research from Halifax, over the last decade, house prices in the postal districts of the 20 premier league football clubs set to begin the 2013/14 season rose at twice the national average.

The average home in one of the 20 stadium postal districts is £319,800. This is one-third higher than the average house in England and Wales, which currently stands at £240,300.

Properties close to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium have advanced by 259% over the last ten years, while those near Southampton's St Mary's Stadium have seen the smallest increase - just 18%.

Craig McKinlay

We are now undertaking property valuations for entries into our next round of auctions taking place in September and October, with our nationwide auction partners.

If you are thinking about selling and your property might be suitable for auction (residential, commercial, development site, land, mixed use, investment, ground rent), contact us today for your free auction appraisal and to chat with one of our auctioneers in your area.

We will take away the dilemma of which auction house to approach - given that are so many auction houses in the UK  it may be quite daunting in terms of knowing who