House prices

Nine out of 13 regions in the UK recorded a house price rise over 2011, in a year of contrasting fortunes ranging from a 5.4% increase in London to an 8.9% drop in Northern Ireland, mortgage lender Nationwide revealed today.

Average house prices were only marginally lower last month than at the start of the year as the market remained stable throughout 2011, mortgage lender Halifax said today.

Lenders and estate agents say the Government could have helped first-time buyers by extending their stamp duty 'holiday' in yesterday's Autumn Budget Statement.

The housing market has remained "surprisingly resilient" this month, Nationwide said today, as the average price of a property increased by 0.4% month-on-month.

First-time buyers struggling to find big deposits should be encouraged back into the housing market with a raft of measures to help them clinch a mortgage deal, a report from businesses recommends today.

House prices rose by 1.2% last month as the property market continues to weather the economic storm, mortgage lender Halifax said today.

Nationwide warns today that the housing market remains "subdued" despite prices rising by 0.4% last month.

Mortgage lender Halifax says the property market continues to lack direction after it reported a second successive month of lower prices today.

House prices continued to "tread water" last month with a 0.1% rise, mortgage lender Nationwide said today.

House prices dropped 1.2% last month, the Halifax says today, ending three months of rises.