There has been a great deal of speculation in recent weeks regarding the 2013 predicted surge in house prices. However not all pundits are anticipating further increases. The Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, Mark Hayward has urged a degree of caution indicating that 2013 rather than seeing an upward spiral in house prices, will more likely be a period where the market will adapt to the turbulence of 2012.

Recent figures just published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) serve to highlight the important role protection insurance plays in helping people cope with the monetary and financial difficulties which can arise as a result of a death, serious illness or injury.

The Building Society Association (BSA) found in its Property Tracker Survey that it is easier to secure a mortgage than at any time in the past four years with borrowing rates at five-year lows and planning approvals for new homes having risen sharply. The new report has raised hopes of a housing market revival.

The Council of Mortgage lenders has recently published its 2013/14  mortgage market forecasts  alongside its mortgage lender evaluation of the market based on interviews with the national lenders.In summary it indicates , there are significant reasons for optimism as it believes  the market recovery which began this year should continue into next year, reinforced partly by the mpact of the Funding for Lending Scheme.

Four out of five advisors recommend that pensioners and those entering retirement find another source of income, as pension cuts in the Autumn Statement are planned. This comes out of a survey conducted by Albion Venture, who found 83% of the 274 intermediaries asked, had advised clients to considered supplementing their pensions from an alternative source.

The UK’s historically low, current interest rates has led to over 2.3 million borrowers overpaying on their mortgages according to new figures produced by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. (CML) The organisation claims that between April 2005 and March 2012 a record number of borrowers have paid more than the required amount on their mortgage contract and have made overpayments.  The level of overpayments indicates that one in three or 34% of borrowers have taken advantage of the low current interest rate climate to maintain the level of previous payments, now contractually reduced, given the lowering of Bank rates.