House prices dipped by 0.2 per cent in January, as analysts predicted that the market could tilt further in buyers' favour over the coming months.

The typical house price is £162,228, following the second monthly drop in a row after a 0.2% fall was also recorded in December, Nationwide's latest house price index said.

But the lack of new homes coming to market means prices are likely to drop only modestly or move sideways in the near future, the building society said. Buyers are being offered some of the cheapest ever mortgage deals, with initial mortgage payments running at their most

Have you a residential, commercial, mixed use property or perhaps a building plot or land that you're looking to sell quickly? Our auctioneers in London and the South East England are already compiling their March auction catalogues (and the rest of our UK auctioneers won't be far behind!), so if you have a property that you're thinking about selling and would like an auction appraisal, then please get in touch as soon as possible.

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The buy-to-let market has flourished of late, with an increasing number of related mortgages being released by providers.

According to new research from Moneyfacts, the amount of buy-to-let home loans currently available is standing at its highest level since the beginning of the economic crisis.

The study showed there are now 486 such agreements to choose from for landlords - a significant escalation on the 243 deals reported just two years earlier.

Louise Holmes, spokeswoman at Moneyfacts, noted the onset of the recession saw the number of buy-to-let options dwindle, adding: "Many aspiring

The cost of the fees and taxes incurred in moving home has jumped by almost 70 per cent in the past ten years to hit £9,000 and outstripped the rise in house prices, according to a new report.

And for families caught by the 3 per cent stamp duty trap, the costs involved with simply moving house have soared much higher – with those buying a property costing more than £250,000 instantly hit with a tax bill of at least £7,500. That means those in the South East pay an average of £16,500, while London home movers pay £19,500, a Lloyds TSB report said.

With mortgage lenders demanding big deposits

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Falling energy prices come with a catch – unless you supply your provider with a meter reading on or around the date of the price cut, you could be overcharged. This is because consumption is typically overestimated by providers, most of which take infrequent meter readings.

When, as now, many of them reduce their charges, they rely on estimated usage that could be out of date or inaccurate. If months go by before later meter readings are taken, showing the customer used less energy than expected over the whole period, the provider cannot tell how much to charge at what rate. Inevitably

Homes in the UK are becoming increasingly affordable, a new study by Halifax has indicated.

According to the research, mortgage payments for a new borrower during the second six months of 2011 stood at their lowest level as a proportion of disposable earnings for 14 years. In addition, it was shown that typical home loan costs for such individuals, when considered alongside the long-term average loan-to-value ratio, amounted to 27 per cent of disposable earnings for the final quarter of 2011.

This was calculated for both home movers and first-time buyers and stood at a significantly lower

If you're wanting a QUICK and EASY house sale, then auction might be the right route for you. If you're thinking about auction, complete this short form http://www.ukauctionlist.com/selling/property-valuation-free-real-estate-appraisal today, and we will arrange for one of our auctioneers to give you a ring to discuss your options.

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House prices in the UK are likely to remain stable in 2012 - provided the nation steers clear of recession.

This is according to Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax - which is a division of Bank of Scotland - who was speaking in response to his company's latest house price index.

According to the figures, the cost of dwellings in the fourth quarter of 2011 were 0.1 per cent lower than that recorded in the previous three-month period, with values falling 0.9 per cent between November and December.

Mr Ellis stated: "There is, however, considerable uncertainty regarding the prospects for

The planned construction of a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham could see more people move to the two respective cities, which would drive demand for housing.

The first phase of the planned HS2 service, which is expected to cut the journey time from London to Birmingham to 49 minutes, is scheduled to get underway in 2016 with completion earmarked for 2026.

The reduced journey time, thanks to the fleet of 220mph trains, could entice some people currently living and working in London to eventually move to Birmingham, where property prices are significantly cheaper than the