The proportion of landlords who think that buy-to-let finance is more freely available is at the highest level since the financial crisis, a survey by Paragon Mortgages has found.

May saw a strong lift in first time buyer housing activity, with 4% more mortgage valuations conducted compared to the previous month, according to chartered surveyors Connells Survey & Valuation. The total number of residential valuations conducted in May was up by a third (32%) from a year ago. This is despite a fall of 1% from the previous month, representing a slight seasonal variation.

House prices increased by 0.4% in May 2013 according to the Halifax House Price Index released today.

Households perceived that the value of their homes rose in May, for the second consecutive month, according to the latest House Price Sentiment Index from Knight Frank and Markit.

61% of First Complete mortgage and protection advisers feel more positive about the mortgage market than they did three months ago and 66% expect to write more business in the next three month than they are doing currently.

Gross mortgage lending of £4.2 billion across 33,500 mortgages was advanced to buy-to-let landlords in the first quarter of 2013, according to latest survey data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This compares with £4.6 billion the previous quarter, and £3.7 billion in the first quarter of last year.

Gross mortgage lending of £4.2 billion across 33,500 mortgages was advanced to buy-to-let landlords in the first quarter of 2013, according to latest survey data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This compares with £4.6 billion the previous quarter, and £3.7 billion in the first quarter of last year.

Research by specialist broker Mortgages for Business has revealed that during the first quarter of 2013 buy to let rates fell by an average of 0.33% when factoring in fees.

The March data from Land Registry's House Price Index shows an annual price increase of 0.9 per cent which takes the average property value in England and Wales to £161,793. The monthly change from February to March shows an increase of 0.1 per cent. Repossession volumes decreased by 18 per cent in January 2013 to 1,317 compared with 1,602 in January 2012.

House prices in England and Wales have risen £6,700 in the last year according to the LSL/Acadametrics house price index released today.

Next 10 >