Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders released during the first three months of 2006 showed a 39 per cent increase in the number of buy-to-let loans during the second half of 2005. One in six of all mortgages are now for buy-to-let properties (Hampton International Mortgages survey).
Nationwide building society reports that the annual increase in the cost of an average home was 5.9% in July, up 0.9% on the June figure. The average home now costs £167,733, up almost £10,000 on July 2005. This is the highest growth rate since April 2005.
