For the second quarter in a row the number of home buyers are lower in London due to restricted supply and affordability.

The mortgage market has seen a rise in the number of products on offer giving homeowners more choice as rates reach new lows.

Home buyers start the year strongly with mortgage lending of £8.9 billion in February which is an increase of 7% over the month.

House prices outpace homeowner earnings in 119 local areas over past two years with majority located in the southern England.

English Housing Survey shows home ownership is the lowest level since 1985 with the private rental sector doubling since 2002.

Home buyer borrowing in London reduces 5% or £310 million in the final quarter of 2016 continuing the downward trend for the capital.

After years of falling rates the 10-year fixed rate mortgage costs are beginning to rise according to research from Moneyfacts.

The cost of a mortgage as a proportion of household income has reached an historic low although there is no increase in house purchase activity.

Figures from the ONS show the growth in houses prices over the year for new builds is more than double that of existing homes.

House prices in the UK are up over the year and remain stable as the number of sales completed have dropped by up to a third.

One in six families have been offered a smaller mortgage from a lender due to their childcare costs adding to parents stress and anxiety.