Homebuyers in Scotland now have a new way to find out about the government-backed MI New Home scheme as leading new homes portal WhatHouse.co.uk launches its interactive guide. Ideal for browsing on a computer or tablet, the interactive format supplements text with video clips explaining how the home purchase assistance scheme works.

MI New Home is available from participating housebuilders in Scotland on new homes priced up to £250,000. The scheme sees the Scottish government underwriting home loans that require a deposit of as little as 5%. The scheme was introduced to help purchasers with only small savings or little equity in their current property to get the finance on a suitable new-build home.

"Our other interactive guides have been very popular and we're delighted to add the MI New Home guide to the list," says Keith Osborne, editor of the WhatHouse.co.uk website. "The digital format offers us the chance to do much more than a printed guide could. So many people search for property and information online that it's the perfect medium for video content that helps to explain clearly what the scheme is about."

You can find the new online guide here or click on the image below.

WhatHouse.co.uk's regular contributor, Marc Da Silva, takes his weekly look at the affordable new homes market in the UK with the latest on affordable housing schemes in Lincolnshire, London, Liverpool, Cheshire, Berkshire and Worcestershire.

New affordable homes in Lincolnshire

Housing association Acis Group has opened the doors to its latest new homes in Gainsborough. The Brocklesby Mews development was officially opened by guest of honour Councillor Malcolm Parish, the Vice Chairman of West Lindsey District Council and former Chairman of Acis Group. The scheme, completed earlier in the year by developer Gelder Group, features nine affordable homes.

Affordable homes in London

Boris Johnson has rejected criticism of his decision to raise the cost of affordable housing in London. Last week the Greater London Authority approved a change to the London Plan which would permit developers to set the rate for cheaper homes at 80% of the market value.

Affordable new homes in Liverpool

Work has started on the second phase of the Ellergreen affordable housing scheme in Liverpool. The project, which is part of a wider project that has already delivered 318 new homes, will eventually feature 500 properties, made up mainly of three- and four-bedroom units.

Affordable homes in Winsford

Housebuilder Persimmon Homes has joined forces with Cheshire West and Chester Council to provide affordable homes for local people, at its Mere View development in Ways Green. The houses are offered with a 30% discount off the market value - making a two-bedroom home available from £84,000.

New affordable homes in Thatcham

West Berkshire Council's executive has approved a decision to sell off the former recycling depot in Pound Lane for new housing, subject to a proportion being affordable. When finalised, the sale should bring in 43 new homes to the town of which 13 will be affordable.

Affordable new homes in Kidderminster

There was good news for Wyre Forest residents this week after it was announced that the Community Housing Group and Wyre Forest District Council are joining forces to bring up to 360 new affordable homes to the district over the next five years, as part of a major funding initiative.

Residential property prices recorded their fastest rate of growth since 2006 last month, while sales also rose to a multi-year high, a new survey shows. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' seasonally adjusted house price balance climbed to +40 from a slightly upwardly revised +37 in July, staying at its highest since November 2006.

The balance reflects the percentage of chartered surveyors reporting increases, not decreases in property prices.

Greater capital growth is also encouraging more vendors to take advantage of favourable selling conditions by putting their homes on the market, reflected by a rise in new instructions in August.

"It's not surprising that more and more people are looking to sell their homes. The buyers are out there and prices are on the up so if you're looking to move it's a good time to do so," says Peter Bolton King, RICS' global residential director.

Moving forward, the RICS survey found that a net balance of +45 of surveyors expect further price appreciation over the next three months. Over the coming year, home prices are estimated to increase by an average of 2.2%.

The property market recovery is being fuelled by low-rate mortgages, created largely by government schemes like Funding for Lending. But the fast pace of recovery has raised concerns about a new property bubble among some experts.

King adds: "What we don't wish to see, however, is prices rise to such an extent that they become unaffordable. For the market to work properly, it's vital that property is both accessible and affordable, and we'll be monitoring the situation very carefully as the housing sector continues to recover."

The market town of Darlington in County Durham lies at the gateway to the Tees Valley and, with a newly pedestrianised town centre and well-established indoor and outdoor markets, is one of the area's most popular retail centres.

Darlington is also well-connected for commuters, close to the A1(M) and A66(M) as well as being a key stop on the East Coast Main Line, a 393-mile-long express railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

For proper town centre living, Charles Church's College Gardens is right in the heart of Darlington, less than ten minutes walk from all the shops and markets. It offers a selection of four- and five-bedroom homes from £249,950, with Help to Buy, NewBuy and Part Exchange available on selected plots to help buyers purchase their home.

On the north-western edge of town, Darlington-based Bussey & Armstrong currently has homes available from £119,950 at a unique development called West Park, which has already won several prestigious awards - including the RICS Gold Award for Regeneration and the LCG Sustainable Community Award. The site, which is based around the first new park to be created in the town for a hundred years, incorporates sculptures and texts created by established artists exploring the ecology of the site. The growing development incorporates a good mix of homes, from one- and two-bedroom apartments, bungalows and cottages to detached four-bedroom family homes.

About ten miles north of Darlington in semi-rural Chilton, Bett Homes has a collection of two- and three-bedroom semi-detached and three- and four-bedroom detached homes at Discover, priced from £139,995. Chilton is a popular residential suburb with local schools and amenities, excellent road links, and more than 200 allotments. Ideal for first-time buyers, families and downsizers alike, the development is also situated just a few miles east of Bishop Auckland and a short distance from Ferryhill.

Barratt Homes has a couple of developments about 12 miles from Darlington in Stockton-on-Tees, heading north east towards Middlesbrough. Situated on the outskirts of Stockton, Barratt has a development of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes called Meadow Rise, priced from £99,995. Forming part of a large-scale regeneration of the area, the development is proving popular with young families and professionals. There is a primary school directly opposite, a general store about five minutes' walk away, and a large supermarket a mile and a half away, as well as all the shops and amenities of Stockton a short drive or bus ride away.

A couple of miles down the road from Meadow Rise, Barratt's The Elms is a quiet, family-friendly development just two miles from the centre of the village suburb of Norton, incorporating three-, four- and five-bedroom homes priced from £142,500. Norton itself is focused around a broad, tree-lined high street with a number of shops, cafés, a library, and other amenities, and The Elms has both a primary school and health centre within a two mile radius.

Finally, also in Stockton-on-Tees, Miller Homes' Kingsmoor development is only about a 15-minute walk from the bustle of the town centre, and close to the A66 for commuters to Darlington and other parts of the north east. Designed around green, open spaces and surrounded by riverside walks, the development offers three- and four-bedroom homes from £134,950, many of them already reserved.

A combination of an excellent goalkeeping display by Carl Ikeme and some wayward finishing by the Swindon Town forwards helped Wolves towards a narrow victory over the Wiltshire club in an end to end contest at Molineux.

Whilst the home team hit the back of the net three times, Swindon were a constant threat in an open game of football.

Skipper Samuel Ricketts recovered from the knee injury he picked up whilst training with the Welsh squad and he took a place in the centre of defence with Scott Golbourne slotting in at left-back.

And it was Golbourne that gave Wanderers a third minute lead albeit with something of a fluke.

Set to attack the South Bank end, Kenny Jackett's men got off to the best possible start as Town keeper Wes Foderingham misjudged Golbourne's cross from the left and the ball flew into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Former Molineux defender Darren Ward did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Kevin Doyle before the first threat from the visitors saw a low shot from Nicky Ajose that was turned behind by Ikeme.

A well delivered ball by Doyle almost let in Leigh Griffiths only for a defender to get a foot in to clear, and then a timely block from Golbourne denied Nile Ranger an almost certain goal at the other end.

Massimo Luongo was high and wide with a long distance effort and then, in the 25th minute, Bakary Sako's precision pass opened up a chance for Griffiths who tried to steer the ball past Foderingham only for the keeper to atone for his earlier error by pulling off an excellent save.

Nathan Thompson got across to clear before Griffiths could get a shot in after another through pass from Sako, before Ikeme blocked brilliantly after Alex Pritchard had played Ryan Mason clean through.

Just two minutes later Ikeme performed heroics with another great save - this time from Pritchard who let fly from the edge of the box.

Sako hit a powerful effort from 30-yards out that was too high and then he tried an angled shot that was deflected past the far post.

The French winger took the flag kick himself and when the ball was half cleared back to him he ran into the box and hit a powerful drive from an acute angle that was parried by Foderingham.

Two minutes before the break Wolves doubled their lead. Doyle's cross was a tad too heavy for Griffiths but the Scottish striker took possession and turned to hit a centre that Doyle headed home at the back stick.

Half-Time: Wolves 2 Swindon 0

An early Pritchard corner was punched out by Ikeme with David Davis completing the clearance.

Mason was booked for a late challenge on Golbourne and almost immediately, Kevin McDonald followed him into the book for kicking the ball away after conceding a free-kick.

Twice in a two minute spell, Town were close to reducing the deficit. Ranger had an angled shot deflected over the bar and then Mason, with the goal at his mercy, stroked the ball wide after he had taken a return pass from Ajose.

On the hour mark both sides made a change with Dany N'Guessan replacing Ajose for the visitors and Zeli Ismail for Davis for Wanderers.

Four Swindon players appeared to get in each others way just ten-yards from Ikeme's goal and then Danny Batth just beat Mason to Luongo's cross robbing the Swindon man of a clear sight at goal.

Mason held off a challenge from Batth before shooting across the face of goal and clipping the foot of the far post. Then it was Wolves' turn as Sako played Griffiths through but he dragged his shot wide.

Midway through the half, McDonald was penalised for a challenge on Thompson but Pritchard's free-kick sailed high over the bar. Moments later Pritchard was booked for a tackle from behind on McDonald.

Ikeme had made several fine saves during the game but the one he made from Thompson's header after a cross from Pritchard was of the highest quality. Thompson was only six-yards out and he got everything behind the ball but Ikeme parried it and then smothered it right on the line.

Another double change saw Bjorn Sigurdarson going on for Griffiths and, for Swindon, Miles Storey replaced Ranger.

Foderingham saved well from Sigurdarson's first time shot after a low cross from Sako before Town finally hit the target in the 82nd minute as N'Guessan fired home after running onto Mason's through ball.

Sako was replaced by Kevin Foley for the final few minutes as Swindon went in search of an equaliser.

Thompson was booked for a late challenge on Doyle and then it was Ikeme drawing more applause from the crowd as he once again thwarted Pritchard.

As the game entered its 90th minute the tension for the home fans was lifted after Doyle had sent Sigurdarson away down the left. His perfect low cross fell in front of Foley who, from just inside the box, sidefooted the ball home.

Incredibly, seconds later, Mason struck a terrific 25-yarder past Ikeme after Pritchard had touched a free-kick to him.

Referee Gary Sutton pulled up with what looked like a muscle injury and he was replaced by assistant referee Amy Fearn who took the whistle for the last couple of minutes.

Full-Time: Wolves 3 Swindon 2

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Golbourne, McDonald, Batth, Ricketts (capt), Davis (Ismail 60), Griffiths (Sigurdarson 77), Doyle, Evans, Sako (Foley 84).

Unused subs: Stearman, Cassidy, Price, McCarey.

Bookings: McDonald (51 - kicking ball away at free-kick), Ismail (90+2 - kicking ball away at free-kick).

Swindon Town: Foderingham, N. Thompson, McEveley, Hall, Ward (capt), Kasim, Luongo, Mason, Pritchard, Ranger (Storey 60), Ajose (N'Guessan 60).

Unused subs: Harley, L. Thompson, Barthham, Belford, Branco.

Bookings: Mason (50 - foul), Pritchard (70 - foul), Thompson (85 - foul).

Referee: G. Sutton.

Attendance: 19,388.

The fear of a house price ‘bubble' is causing a rift between Ministers over the government's Help to Buy scheme. Business Secretary Vince Cable wants a re-think of the scheme which he believes threatens to create price rises that will disadvantage homebuyers in the longer term and fuel the house price bubble. On the other hand, Chancellor George Osborne, a champion of the Help to Buy scheme, believes it is helping first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder and is seeing more new homes developments being built.

Today (Monday 16 September), Santander UK is re-launching its mortgage range, which includes Help to Buy, a new range of no-booking-fee products including; two- year fixed-rate at 3.24%, five-year fixed-rate at 3.44%; and a two-year tracker at 3.24%.

The new range includes mortgages with no early repayment charge (ERC), offering customers the freedom to pay off their mortgage early or have the freedom to switch to another mortgage product without incurring an additional fee. ERC-free products, available from Santander on mortgages up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), are; Lifetime Tracker at 2.49% and £495 fee, two-year fixed-rate at 2.84% and £995 fee, three-year fixed-rate at 3.29% and £995 fee, and their Flexi Offset at 3.59% and £495 fee.

Phil Cliff, director of Santander Mortgages, says: "Our ERC-free range offers customers freedom not normally associated with mortgage products. Our two- and three-year fixed rates provide customers with the stability of knowing what their monthly payment will be but with the added freedom of being able to overpay and flexibility to switch to another mortgage dependent on their needs or change in circumstance, with no additional fees attached."

Meanwhile, the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society is the latest to offer fixed-term mortgages at under 2%. The society's new two-year fixed-rate best-buy rate of 1.99% is available on loans up to 65% LTV, with a product fee of £295. Richard Barker, product manager at Norwich & Peterborough, says: "In addition to the best-buy rate, the fee is low and the mortgage comes with added incentives such as a free valuation, and free legal fees for borrowers remortgaging or £200 cash back for homebuyers, to keep down upfront costs for borrowers.

For those with a 10% deposit, Chelsea Building Society has launched a new two-year fixed-rate mortgage at a rate of 3.54% at 90% LTV and 2.94% at 85% LTV, continuing a long-term fall in the cost of its fixed-rate mortgages. Chelsea's other fixed-rate mortgages include a five-year, 85% LTV deal at 3.84%. Each product carries a fee of £1,545.

Chelsea Building Society product manager Sadie Costello says: "The short-term fixed-rate mortgage at a market-leading rate gives borrowers the security of knowing what their monthly repayments will be for the next two years to help them better plan their finances for the future."

The Post Office has reduced the cost of new mortgages, with its two-year fixed-rate dropping from 1.7% to 1.63% at 60% LTV with a £1,995 fee. Other products include a three-year fixed-rate reduced from 2.99% to 2.75% at 75% LTV, and a five-year fixed-rate mortgage reduced from 4.39% to 4.29% at 85% LTV.

John Willcock, head of Post Office Mortgages, remarks: "We are committed to helping our customers move up the ladder which is why many of our rates have been reduced, and some deals are free of arrangement fees. The diversity of our range means we have deals for everyone from first-time buyers through to those looking to move home or remortgage."

Click here to find out more about how whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

As any interior designer worth their salt will tell you, there are numerous tricks to making a home which is on the smaller side of things appear bigger than it actually is.

Creating the illusion of having more space is a great first step to breathing new life into your property for a more relaxing, liveable environment. With this in mind, here are some more of WhatHouse.co.uk's favourite space-creating ideas, transforming your home from small and stuffy to spacious and welcoming.

1. Bathroom

Wall-hung furniture such as the toilet, vanity basin and cabinets, leaves space underneath the items meaning the eye can travel round the bottom half of the room uninterrupted, giving the impression of more space. It's actually possible these days to buy a corner vanity unit, cupboard and toilet which will physically result in more space.

2. Living room

You can do clever tricks with paint in your living room if you have a skirting board or cornice. For instance, painting both the same colour as the wall will make the room appear taller. You can do the same trick with curtains; keep them the same colour as the wall and hang them closer to the ceiling to make the eye travel upwards and make the room, again, seem taller. Have a triple-purpose coffee table in the form of cubes. These can store items and, with an added cushion, act as seating when friends and family appear.

3. Kitchen

Take down cabinets and replace them with open shelves - especially ‘floating' versions so there are no brackets to distract the eye. Alternatively, and if your budget allows, replace those solid cupboard doors with glass versions to make it seem as if there's more space. This will also bring in more light as the glass will reflect any kind of lighting, including daylight. Another idea is to recess any large storage areas so that they're flush with the kitchen wall.

4. Bedroom

Consider having a built-in bed made. Not only will it take up less space than a freestanding version but it can also be used to provide storage, with drawers added underneath. You could also place two large mirrors at opposite ends of the room to each other therefore seeming to ‘open up' the room.

5. Hallway

Install a large chandelier. Not only does it add some decorative ‘oomph' but it'll also distract from the narrowness of the hallway. Alternatively fit some track lighting so that it's well lit. Painting the hallway a lighter colour will also help open it out a bit, especially if it's semi-gloss paint as it'll reflect any light.

6. Miscellaneous

Removing doors makes your home appear larger, letting in more light, regardless of which room it is. If you have open shelving such as a book case, leave some of it empty rather than have the shelves overstuffed and cluttered looking; it'll give an impression of ‘airiness'.

Make the most of what you've got - take unnecessary stress out of everyday life and transform a cramped and cluttered home with a flick of a paint brush and some clever rejigging of furniture.

While there are some fans, in the wake of the last two seasons, who will never be convinced by Steve Morgan, the interview in last Saturday's Express & Star showed how fortunate Wolves are to have him as owner and chairman.

Morgan knows he, among others, has made mistakes and hasn't shirked the blame, but you can never question his commitment to the club and passion for football.

Every time I have met him that passion shines through and true. He's got good working-class values, believes in honesty and integrity in life and business and as a proud man, who's built a hugely successful building company in Redrow Homes, he hates losing. You know his weekends, even whole weeks, really are ruined by defeat. Give me that sort of owner and chairman every time.

While some supporters wanted him out after successive relegations, they clearly did not know the man. Morgan's a fighter, not a quitter and his pride wasn't going to see him walk away. The disasters of the last two years have only doubled his desire to get Wolves back to the top and people forget the good times he has helped bring to Wolves since his bought the club.

Morgan is not so arrogant that he is not prepared to learn and he admits that the business of football, where information "leaks like a sieve," still frustrates the hell out of him. It is a ‘business' like no other, breaking all the rules.

He has made it clear he is here for the long haul and that is self-evident from his belief in and investment in the Category 1 Academy, underwriting the next phase at Compton and his desire to leave a legacy and improve young people's lives.

Morgan wants to bring young local players through and that must be music to Greg Dyke's ears with the FA chairman worried about the number of foreign players in the Premier League, hindering the performance and future of the England team.

When I played with other local lads like Joleon Lescott and Lee Naylor, you had a real identity and felt a strong connection with the fans. You are seeing that now with Academy graduates like Danny Batth and Zeli Ismail.

Foreign players are not just signed by Premier League sides, but also in the lower leagues. It was refreshing to see Wolves sign Lee Evans from Newport County last season. Find gems from down the divisions and you also keep the money in the British game, which helps development. Also good young coaches in this country are not given enough time to make a difference, or there is simply not enough money in coaching to keep them in the game.

The Premier League is just a monster; an entertainment business that demands instant success. When I was in the England U21 set up 10 years ago, most of the team were Premier League starters, such as Chris Kirkland, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe. That's certainly not the case today.

Back to the chairman. Next week Wolves main sponsor WhatHouse? is holding a New Homes Debate at Molineux in partnership with Countrywide, the UK's biggest estate agency group. After the debate, there is a penalty shoot out on the pitch, raising money for the Wolves Community Trust, with me in goal and Morgan lined up to take the first spot kick.

Now I know he's the boss and very competitive, but I am confident I can psyche him out and keep him out. Bring it on.

________________________________________________________________

Last week I was involved in a training day at Compton to launch Jody Craddock's testimonial year. Some fans travelled down from Sunderland, Jody's old club, which shows just how highly he is regarded. He has been a great servant to Wolves and has gone through some tough times with his son Toby's illness. Jody's testimonial is supporting Birmingham Children's Hospital and Balls To Cancer. The training session had fans admitting they perhaps wouldn't give the team so much stick from the stands now, as they never realised how fit you had to be and that was just a few passing drills!

It was great fun with terrific support from the club on the day, which included a tour of the training ground and supporters seeing the fantastic facilities and how well players are looked after. I think I can safely say, bar one amazing overhead kick, we didn't unearth any outstanding hidden talent and the Wolves first team squad can rest easy. But it was brilliant to have so many fans supporting Jody and enjoying the banter, with lots more events lined up.

Matt Murray is an ambassador for whathouse.co.uk

Thinking about selling your home but not sure where to start? Wanting to get the price you deserve but don't know how to put your best foot forward? Selling your home can be both an expensive and time-consuming exercise, which unfortunately doesn't always guarantee a sale.

Your home will most likely be the most valuable possession you will ever own, so naturally approaching the sale process with a great deal of consideration will keep things running as smoothly as possible. Here's what you can do to make your home stand out from the others, maximising your chances of securing a sale.

1. Find the right estate agent

Whether you achieve a quick sale or not, chances are if you choose to use an estate agent you will end up spending a large amount of your time in negotiations. With this is mind, find an agent who you not only get on with, but has experience in successfully selling properties similar to yours. Most of all, make sure that they are enthusiastic about your home.

It may be worth getting a couple of valuations to not only satisfy your curiosity on pricing but to get a feel for the people who will be involved in selling your home.

2. Think about your figures

If a number of valuations have left you with varying price tags to consider, it can be tempting to go with the highest figure. In today's volatile housing market, prospective homebuyers may actually be put off by a high price and look elsewhere for a more "value-for-money" alternative. What's more, starting low may actually pay off in the long run. A lower price tag may attract added interest with the prospect of competitive bidding more likely to occur.

3. Consider your décor

You may love your vibrant and unique interiors but they may not be to everyone's taste. Homebuyers like to be able to visualise themselves in a new home, or imagine what they would do to put their own stamp on things. Give your walls a lick of paint in neutral colours, breathe new life into the front door with a new colour, re-tile or re-grout a bathroom to look cleaner and fresher and try placing some flowers around the home for a liveable finishing touch.

4. Less is more

If you know there will be a serious of regular viewings, keep on top of dishes or washing and put anything that you aren't using on a day-to-day basis out of sight. Buyers will be more inclined to think that the home is functional and practical and it will create the illusion of space. Putting furniture into storage will help make the property look more spacious than it really is. Also keep personal items and photographs at a minimum.

5. First impressions count

You may be placing all your efforts into the interiors of your home, so don't forget about the exteriors and garden. Prospective buyers will make decisions within seconds of entering a home, so create one that lasts. Plant flowers, mow the lawn, remove any weeds and put down a new mat for a welcoming impression.

6. Make improvements

It may be tempting to inform any viewers about your property and try to upsell your home, but your presence could actually be putting buyers off. People may feel like they are imposing and may not feel comfortable discussing the property in your presence. Leave this to the estate agents, who will show viewers around as part of their service. Go take the dog for the walk or do the shopping and allow decisions to be made.

The estate agent should provide feedback on why your home wasn't chosen over a similar property. Ask them for their reasons and make improvements.

Consider these tips when taking your property to market, and see how irresistible and marketable your home can quickly become.

Over the past year, the government's Funding for Lending scheme has been credited with bringing down the cost of borrowing for thousands of people. Mortgage rates have reached record-breaking levels with dozens of five-year fixed-rate deals now available at under 3%.

However, research from a leading expert believes that the government scheme has only produced limited benefits for borrowers with smaller deposits - precisely the people it was designed to assist. Instead, the main benefits have been to high-value borrowers with a large deposit who now have a wider choice of cheap deals.

Funding for Lending ‘helping the rich remortgage'

The government's Funding for Lending scheme has allowed banks and building societies to access very cheap money in return for increasing the amount of loans to homeowners and small businesses. Over recent months mortgage deals have hit record lows with the West Bromwich Building Society recently launching a two-year fixed-rate mortgage at just 1.48%.

However, Moneyfacts has tracked the number and type of mortgages on the market and discovered that while the scheme has resulted in significant benefits for borrowers with a large deposit it hasn't provided a wide choice of deals to other consumers.

The data analysts have compared the current mortgage market with the spring of 2009 before the government began to intervene in the market. Speaking to Radio 4, Sylvia Waycot from Moneyfacts says that although there are more mortgages on offer now, they are very much targeted at the wealthy, not the struggling.

She said: "If you had a 40% deposit in March 2009, there were 272 different mortgage products that you could have chose from to take your mortgage. Since Funding for Lending came in, it rose to 472 and it's now 544. That market is the market that the banks and building societies are feeling more secure in. If you are a first-time buyer and were looking for a 95% mortgage in March 2009, there were only three on the market that you could choose from. Now there are 54.

Paul Lewis from the BBC's Moneybox show agrees, saying that high loan-to-value deals have gone from "virtually non-existent to scarce". He added that "the Funding for Lending Scheme seems to be helping the rich re-mortgage rather than... first-time buyers."

Keith Osborne, editor of WhatHouse.co.uk adds: "I have been saying for months that while the Funding for Lending scheme has been pushing down mortgage rates it hasn't resulted in a much wider choice of deals for first-time buyers. People with a large deposit have found it cheaper to borrow while consumers looking for 90% or 95% loans continue to struggle."

Click here to find out more about how whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

Tranmere Rovers FC has submitted a planning application to Wirral council to build 50 new homes on part of its car park at Prenton Park in the Wirral.

The football club wants to develop the residential units on three acres of its land behind the Bebington Kop stand. The site covers around two-thirds of the existing car park around the ground in addition to a vacant van sale site facing Borough Road.

If plans are approved, the development would involve a number of buildings behind the stand being flattened, including a social club, function room and an indoor training facility. The current buildings are considered to be in "poor or very poor condition", according to Tranmere'schief executive, Mick Horton.

He said the club intends to relocate facilities lost to the development at the club's proposed new training facility, at Woodchurch leisure centre, or within the existing accommodation at Prenton Park.

Mr Horton says: "The car parking area in question has been surplus to requirements for some considerable time and the remaining car park spaces are adequate for our match day and non-match day use. The former van sale site has been vacant for some years."

This is not the first time that Tranmere has applied to develop new homes.

Last year, Wirral council approved a bid by the club to build 90 homes on its nearby Ingleborough Road playing fields, along with a linked application to redevelop the council-owned Woodchurch leisure centre as the club's new training complex.

Wolves unbeaten start to the League One season ground to an untidy halt as neighbours Walsall deservedly took the honours from this Molineux derby thanks to a second half goal from skipper Andy Butler.

There was just one change to the home starting line-up with Björn Sigurdarson replacing Leigh Griffiths up front. The Scot took a place on the bench.

Walsall kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and the first moment of danger came in the third minute after Kevin Doyle had been fouled by Paul Downing on the Wolves left. Bakary Sako lifted the free-kick into the area but it was cleared as was the corner taken by the winger a minute later.

Sigurdarson hit a ferocious first time shot from 20-yards that flashed past the post before Lee Evans's foul on Sam Mantom some 22-yards out spelled danger for Wanderers. Craig Westcarr couldn't have been much closer with the free-kick which clipped the top of the bar as it went over.

Ashley Hemmings hit a low, long range shot straight at Carl Ikeme who then had to re-adjust to take a deflected cross from Mantom.

A mazy run by Sigurdarson took him from the halfway line to the edge of the area. The ball broke to Sako who cut inside before unleashing a shot that wasn't far away from the far post.

After a 33rd minute corner from Hemmings there was another chance for the Saddlers as the home defence failed to clear its lines and the ball dropped to Downing who fired over the bar from 15-yards.

Wolves were struggling to impose their authority on the game and Ikeme had to move smartly once more as he dived to save a long-range drive from Mantom.

Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell was finally called into action after 39 minutes following Hemmings's foul on Kevin McDonald 25-yards out. Sako's free-kick swerved over the wall and looked destined for the back of the net until O'Donnell acrobatically touched it over.

The keeper then made an easier save from an Evans free-kick after Doyle had been sandwiched on a run to goal. But the keeper was at his best again in stoppage time as he kept out a glancing header from Doyle following Sako's corner.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Walsall 0

In the opening minute of the new half a Doyle header drifted well wide after a cross from Scott Goldbourne.

A promising move involving David Davis, Doyle and Sako broke down and as Troy Hewitt broke into the Wolves half he was bundled over by McDonald who was shown the yellow card.

McDonald was withdrawn and replaced by Griffiths in the 56th minute and, at the same time Kevin Foley went on for Evans.

Griffiths was soon involved but his header following Matt Doherty's cross lacked power and direction as Wolves began to enjoy more of the attacking play after a lack lustre opening half.

Sako was too high with a snapshot from all of 40-yards, and from a Griffiths corner Danny Batth powered a header narrowly wide.

Midway through the half it was the visiting fans that were celebrating after Batth had been penalised for a foul on Hewitt to the left of the Wolves box. Westcarr's free-kick to the far post was headed back into the heart of the goalmouth where Butler was waiting to nod the ball home.

Doyle almost created an equaliser three minutes later with a shot that took a hefty deflection and went just wide of the post as O'Donnell struggled to get across his goal.

Then a Sako free-kick from the side of the box, after Doherty had been fouled by Andy Taylor, was collected by O'Donnell at his near post.

As Wolves piled forward in search of a goal, Saddlers substitute Romaine Sawyers broke clear and sprinted into the area where Batth managed to get in a last gasp challenge.

In the 89th minute Ikeme was booked for handling the ball outside his area after he had slipped making a clearance. From the free-kick Milan Lalkovic, on as a substitute for Hewitt, thumped the ball against the outside of the post.

The five minutes of added time yielded no reward for Wanderers who were held at bay by a determined Saddlers defence.

Full-Time: Wolves 0 Walsall 1

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Golbourne, Davis, Batth, Ricketts (capt), Evans (Foley 56), McDonald (Griffiths 56), Doyle, Sigurdarson, Sako.

Unused subs: McCarey, Stearman, Cassidy, Price, Ismail.

Bookings: McDonald (50 - foul), Ikeme (89 - hand ball).

Walsall: O'Donnell, Taylor, Butler (capt), Featherstone, A. Chambers, Westcarr (Sawyers 81), Hemmings (Baxendale 65), Downing, J. Chambers, Mantom, Hewitt (Lalkovic 81).

Unused subs: Purkiss, Benning, Roberts, McQuilkin.

Booking: Mantom (90+5 - kicking ball away after conceding free-kick).

Referee: M. Russell.

Attendance: 22,240.

Every week we'll tell you about the events being held at new homes developments across the UK over the next seven days. Find out about the launch of the very latest developments, the unveiling of new show homes, open days and much more.

South East

Redrow Homes - Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 September - The housebuilder has a presence at the Southampton Boat Show where it is promoting Lymington Shores, its development of luxury waterfront homes in Hampshire. Prices range from £350,000 to £1.9m with the first show homes opening in October.

Redrow Homes - Saturday 21 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - '15-Minute Mortgage Challenge' events at Davington Park, Faversham, Kent. Mortgage specialists in attendance to provide help and guidance to prospective purchasers. Help to Buy is available on properties at the development.

Banner Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - Open weekend at Kinsbrook, the housebuilder's exclusive development in Brooks Green, West Sussex. Just five high-specification six-bedroom homes offering a minimum of 4,800 sq ft of accommodation, each on a near one-acre plot, with prices starting at £1.95m.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 21 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Launch event for Atrium at Great Western Park, located between Harwell and Didcot, Oxfordshire. Entertainment for all the family, plus a barbecue, and a chance to find out about the properties and prices which are being unveiled at the event.

Trafalgar New Homes/Combe Bank Homes - Saturday 21 September - Open Day and official marketing launch for Oakhurst Park Gardens in Hildenborough, Kent, an exclusive gated development of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes on the edge of a conservation area where prices start at £525,000.

London

Triathlon Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - Open House at East Village, the homes being created from the Athletes' Village at the Stratford Olympic Park, E20. An opportunity to see how the facilities are being transformed to provide hundreds of new homes in this regenerated part of East London.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, from 11.00am to 3.00pm - Special event taking place at the Holiday Inn, Kingston-upon-Thames, for the remaining properties for sale at Plaza II in Surbiton. One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses priced from £395,000, £425,000 and £850,000 respectively.

Ballymore - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - Launch of marketing suite for West Hampstead Square, its apartment scheme.

Mount Anvil - Thursday 19 September, from 6.00pm to 9.30pm - Launch of The Eagle in City Road, near Old Street station. The 26-storey tower, in an Art Deco-inspired design by renowned architect Terry Farrell & Partners, will incorporate 206 private apartments.

Wales

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 21 September, from 11.00am to 3.00pm - ‘Meet the Expert' weekend at Lysaght Village in Corporation Road, Newport, Gwent. An independent financial adviser joins the TW team to offer advice about mortgages and Part Exchange at the development, which offers three-bedroom homes priced from £149,995.

Midlands

Bellway Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, from 10.30am to 5.00pm - Help to Buy weekend at two developments in the region: Glaze in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire and The Pastures in New Woodside, Telford, Shropshire.

Barratt Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - ‘The Great Barratt Move' events at developments across Birmingham and the Black Country: Kings Rise in Kings Norton; The Bridles in Bell Lane, Bloxwich; Dukes Park in Constantine Way, Bilston; The Lyng in Lyttleton Street, West Bromwich; and The Pavilions in Coombs Road, Halesowen. Reserve a property with Part Exchange for just £1 and get help on removals with a package worth up to £1,500.

Walton Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, from 11.00am to 5.00pm - Launch of Brindley Rise in Rugeley, Staffordshire. Two show homes will be open for the first phase of apartments, Wolseley House, which are priced from £100,000. With Help to Buy, only a £5,000 deposit may be needed to purchase a studio property.

Urban Rhythm - Saturday 21 September, from 10.30am - Launch of second phase of homes, called Quarter Two, at Wheatsheaf Works in Leicester. New show homes will also be unveiled to promote the new phase of 17 apartments and 10 townhouses at the renovated Grade II-listed factory building. Prices start at £109,950.

Redrow Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - New show homes opening at Scholars Place in Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. The three-bedroom ‘Letchworth' (priced from £234,950) and four-bedroom ‘Cambridge' have been professionally decorated. A choice of three- and four-bedroom home types is currently available.

Redrow - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - New show homes opening at Becket Manor in Deanshanger, Northamptonshire. The four-bedroom ‘Kingswood' and five-bedroom ‘Passenham' will be open to demonstrate the quality of family properties available at the development, with prices from £332,950.

Miller Homes - Saturday 21 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Three show homes will be unveiled at Keepers Grange in Newton Village, Stenson Fields, Derbyshire. A first chance to see the two-bedroom ‘Borroughs', the three-bedroom ‘Hawthorne' and the four-bedroom ‘Aldrich', with free refreshments and the opportunity to find out about purchasing with Help to Buy.

Scotland

Barratt Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, from 10.30am to 5.30pm - Open House at Cathkin Rise in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. A first chance to see the new two- and three-bedroom property types from the company's Caledonia range, some of which are available with the MI New Home scheme.

North West

Redrow Homes - Sunday 22 September, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - Part Exchange event at Sandy Lane in Buckshaw Village near Chorley, Lancashire. Part exchange specialists The Property Perspective will be present to arrange valuations and answer queries. Prices at the development range from £359,995 to £499,995.

Redrow Homes - Saturday 21 September, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - First-time buyer event at Woodville Gardens in Moston, Greater Manchester. Sales consultants and mortgage advisers present to discuss the properties available and the option of Help to Buy. Prices start at £104,995 for a two-bedroom property: with Help to Buy, this requires a deposit of £5,250.

North East

Redrow Homes - Saturday 21 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - '15-Minute Mortgage Challenge' events at Kirk's Paddock, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Mortgage specialists in attendance to provide help and guidance to prospective purchasers. Help to Buy is available on two-, three- and four-bedroom properties at the development, priced from £104,950.

Miller Homes - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September - Help to Buy events at two developments in Yorkshire: Brooklands in Foxby Lane, Gainsborough, a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom properties priced from £57,500; and Minster View in West Wells Lane, Gringley-on-the-Hill, Doncaster, with three- and five-bedroom homes from £179,950.

Some players and fans I spoke to said the Swindon game on Saturday was the best they've ever seen Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme play.

I rang to congratulate him on an awesome man-of-the-match performance. Carl's reply? "I did okay."

That's exactly the response you want and I expected. He is not getting carried away and while Ikeme made a string of great saves, he won't be thinking about them now. He'll be analysing why Swindon scored two goals - neither of which he had a chance with - and could have had several more if it wasn't for some very wayward finishing.

Ikeme knows on another day Swindon would have had their shooting boots on and shots would have hit the woodwork and gone in.

A goalkeeper who makes a series of brilliant saves in victory gets the hero of the day accolade. But as a keeper you are often happiest walking off the pitch with a 1-0 win and having had very little to do.

It means your defence has done well and you have marshalled and organised the men in front of you to ensure the opposition have not created clear chances. Job done.

It's an obvious thing to say, but the best keepers like Ikeme absolutely hate the ball hitting the back of the net - and that's just in training!

Wolves have been blessed with some fine goalkeepers down the years. I am personally so pleased for Carl. He is a good mate and we go back a long way. He is an outstanding professional, very disciplined in his preparation and sets himself the highest standards.

At 27 Ikeme is one of the more experienced players at the club and with the quality of the other keepers has to stay on top of his game.

Great saves are not luck and you have to be brave in this job. Outfield players sometimes joke at training that the keepers simply go off and do a bit of ‘pat-a-cake' stuff, catching a few balls.

But watch Ikeme and the other keepers in training with Pat Mountain and it is incredibly hard work. Reps after reps, up and down work which prepares you for those double saves; thousands of catches at almost point blank range, getting out quickly - the list goes on and Pat Mountain deserves a huge amount of credit for Ikeme's form and consistency.

I think Ikeme's concentration levels have been excellent too this season, as has his distribution. He won't be hammering those in front of him after Saturday, but will have plenty to contribute, because as a keeper you can see down the pitch, what is unfolding in front of you and where the gaps are and the openings stem from.

Matt Murray is an ambassador for whathouse.co.uk

Marc Da Silva continues his weekly series of interviews with senior figures in the housebuilding industry with an exclusive chat with Chris Lanitis, a partner at Amazon Property.

What regions do you cover? We operate in the inner zones of London.

What are housing market conditions currently like in those areas? The market is very strong, due mainly to a shortage of high quality central London homes. At Amazon we have seen real demand from both domestic and foreign buyers for high-specification apartments with great transport links, education and shopping facilities nearby. A trend we have identified is empty nesters looking to sell large family propertiesin the inner London suburbs for more manageable central London apartments, crucially, still retaining a high quality of living, security and convenience.

What types of property is your firm selling? Amazon Property sells large, high-specification lateral apartments. We specialise in transforming period buildings of character, many of which were once commercial premises or office spaces into luxury residences. We have found there are some fantastic advantages to converting office spaces into apartments, allowing for large, open-plan living spaces, high ceilings and light filled living areas.

How much does a new home by Amazon Property typically cost to buy? We sell properties from £800,000 to £15m

Why should more buyers consider buying a new-build home as opposed to older property? There are a wealth of benefits to purchasing a new-build property, the first of which is ease of living and lifestyle. Many of our properties offer a concierge service, video entry panels and CCTV, making each apartment safe and comfortable for both international and domestic buyers. Amazon combines the best of both worlds; many of our developments are complete new-builds behind an original façade, be it art deco or period. Such a building technique allows us to implement the latest technologies throughout; including under-floor heating, centralised audiovisual systems and ceiling-mounted speakers, whilst retaining the stunning original façade in most cases.

Is it worth buying property during the off-plan stage of construction? There are definitely some advantages to buying off-plan. The first of which is customisation, with off-plan the purchaser has a wider choice when selectinga property within that specific development.They can tailor purchases and select a bespoke specification. Secondly, return on investment and appreciation in value, off-plan sales allows buyers to potentially reap higher returns on purchases. Finally, there is no chain when it comes to buying a property off-plan, purchasers are able to liaise with our sales agents directly, working with them to choose their dream home.

What is Amazon Property's USP? Attention to detail and that each property we create is a bespoke offering. Our apartments are all situated in fantastic central London locations, we are currently selling properties from the once London headquarters of Paramount Studios, on Soho's Waurdour Street, to Park Crescent, an outstanding Grade I-listed crescent originally designed by the renowned architect John Nash. Essentially we want to offer our buyers the opportunity to purchase a part of London.

Which of the developments Amazon Property is currently developing do you think stands the best chance of winning a What House? Award? I believe one of our latest developments, The Buckingham Collection, would stand the best chance. It is situated in the heart of central London, just moments from buzzing Covent Garden, iconic Trafalgar Square andthe Strand. This collection of prestigious Art Deco apartments is set within London's vibrant theatre land, just off the Strand and within close reach of Embankment and the newly refurbished Savoy Hotel. Positioned across five floors, each of the seven one- to three-bedroom bespoke apartments provide a truly unique opportunity and the highest internal specification throughout. The lateral, spacious apartments have been thoughtfully designed with a contemporary feel featuring light-filled and minimalist living areas, ideal for entertaining guests or enjoying with the family. The development also boasts features such as Aquavision recessed waterproof televisions, video entry panels, under-floor heating and handpicked, vein-matched marble bathrooms.

WhatHouse.co.uk's regular contributor, Marc Da Silva, takes his weekly look at the affordable new homes market in the UK with the latest on affordable housing schemes in Cumbria, Norfolk, London, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire and Cornwall.

New affordable homes in Cumbria

Two Castles Housing Association working alongside Esh Property Services as part of the Hadrian Development Solutions Partnership, has started work to build 27 new affordable homes on Windermere Road, near Kendal, for people with a connection to the town or surrounding area. The homes will be made available for rent through the Cumbria Choice lettings scheme.

Affordable homes in Norfolk

A Norfolk housing trust will spend in the region of £200m on developing 1,000 new affordable homes in north Norfolk over the next 10 years. Victory Housing Trust, based in North Walsham, is also spending another £65m on refurbishing existing properties. Currently the trust builds between 50 and 100 new homes per year and plans to increase this figure by 70.

Affordable new homes in London

Network Housing Group has been given the go-ahead to build 25 affordable apartments on the site of Electric House in Willesden Green, north west London. The project, which is receiving £1m funding from the Greater London Authority, will see the creation of 20 one-, two- and three-bedroom shared ownership and five affordable rent apartments.

Affordable homes in Shrewsbury

A special ceremony was held last week to mark the completion of seven new affordable homes in Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury. The Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Jon Tandy, cut a ribbon at the Severnside Housing development to mark the handover over of the homes at Fenton Close and Shelton Gardens.

New affordable homes in Nottinghamshire

The first bricks were laid on a new housing development at Midland Road in Eastwood, last week. Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe, Councillor Iris White, was joined by Leader of the Council, Councillor Milan Radulovic, to lay the first bricks during the ceremony on Thursday 12 September, along with representatives from the contractor, Midlands-based Waters Homes. The development, on the former garage site on Midland Road, consist of two family homes and four bungalows and are one of four social housing projects currently under construction in the Borough, worth over £6m.

Affordable new homes in Falmouth

The MP for Truro and Falmouth, Sarah Newton, has expressed her concerns for the future of a "vital" affordable housing schemein a letter to the leader of Cornwall Council, John Pollard. The future of the proposed scheme appears to be in jeopardy after Cornwall Council removed the item from its last Cabinet meeting.

Official figures from the Bank of England have confirmed what many experts have been saying over recent weeks: namely that mortgage rates in the UK have now reached a record low. The average mortgage interest rate in the second quarter of 2013 fell to 3.43% while the average rate for new mortgages tumbled from 3.65% to 3.47%.

And access to cheaper mortgage deals has had a significant effect on the UK's mortgage market with lending in the summer of 2013 having reached its highest level since before the global financial crisis. We analyse the new data and look at whether mortgage rates have reached rock bottom.

Average mortgage rate falls to record low

The latest data from the Bank of England has revealed that the average mortgage interest rate fell to 3.43% in the three months to June, down from 3.47% the previous quarter. This is the lowest figure since the Bank's records began in 2007 but experts believe it is the lowest level ever thanks to the low base rate and the impact of the Funding for Lending scheme.

A spokesman for the Council of Mortgage Lenders said: "Such low rates are keeping costs down for existing borrowers and they are also enabling people to get on the housing ladder more affordably, even though house prices remain high. Interest rates will remain low for the foreseeable future, but both householders and lenders need to stress-test an ability to service higher rates at some point in the future."

The Bank of England figures also revealed that these low rates have resulted in the highest jump in mortgage lending since 2007. The total value of new mortgages advanced between April and June 2013 reached £41.6bn, a rise of 23% on the first quarter and the highest quarterly increase since 2007. The value of first-time buyer loans also rose significantly year up year, reaching £8bn in the second quarter of 2013 - a 31% rise.

"While it's great news for borrowers that rates have hit a record low, there are signs that deals are at rock bottom," said Keith Osborne, editor of WhatHouse.co.uk. "Even since the Bank of England data was compiled rates have started to creep up and so we may not see mortgage deals at these sorts of levels for very long. If you're thinking of remortgaging or getting a new mortgage now could well be the time to do it. It's very unlikely that deals are going to get any cheaper and so it may well pay to take advantage of the current products sooner rather than later."

Click here to find out more about how whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

Property developer Keepmoat shows no signs of slowing down its construction of new homes in the Midlands, having reached the milestone of building over 1,000 homes in the region over the past three years.

The company's ethos of building high-quality new homes at affordable prices has been enhanced by its participation in the government-backed Help to Buy scheme. Demand for new-build homes has soared since this initiative was launched in April 2013 as it allows first-time buyers and movers alike to purchase a brand new home priced up to £600,000 with just a 5% deposit and a 20% equity loan.

The equity loan effectively increases the deposit to 25%, allowing the purchaser to access an affordable 75% mortgage. The loan is interest-free for the first five years and only needs to be repaid at the end of the mortgage period or when the property is sold. Furthermore, the buyer has 100% ownership of their home from day one.

With Keepmoat, this means a brand new home from the company could be purchased with a deposit as low as £5,100. The developer is currently offering a wide array of property types at sites across the Midlands:

• Brunswick Place, Handsworth, Birmingham (just one property left)
• Horizon, Newtown, Birmingham (just one property left on the current phase)
• Manor Gardens, Nottingham
• The Croppings, Telford
• Spirit Quarters, Coventry
• Blakenhall Gardens, Wolverhampton
• Royal Gardens, Wolverhampton
• Friars Gate, Dudley
• Chatterley Heights, Stoke-on-Trent
• Upton Place, Northampton
• Arran Rise, Corby

Eammon McInerney, group sales and marketing director for Keepmoat, says: "Keepmoat properties are proving very popular in the Midlands and this has been evidenced by the fact that we have now built more than 1,000 new homes here in the last three years. A Keepmoat home is a promise of quality, space and affordability to the house buyer and our success in the Midlands proves that house hunters have cottoned on to this fact. I'd urge anyone searching for a new house in the Midlands to take a look at a Keepmoat home and discover just what value you can get for your money."

A late Bakary Sako penalty saw Wolves return to winning ways after a tight encounter with Shrewsbury Town at Greenhous Meadow.

Kenny Jackett's men were pushed all the way by The Shrews in front of a partisan Shropshire crowd but Sako kept his nerve to dispatch the spot kick after Jon Taylor had been sent-off for handling on the line.

There was a record League attendance at the ground as the head coach made two changes to the side that had lost to Walsall in midweek with Zeli Ismail replacing Lee Evans and Björn Sigurdarson for the injured Kevin Doyle.

There was almost a sensational start as The Shrews kicked off defending the end that housed the away support. Less than ten seconds had gone when the ball was played back to Town keeper Chris Weale whose clearance was charged down by Sigurdarson with the rebound going a couple of yards wide of the open goal.

Shrewsbury went straight on the attack and when Danny Batth headed out Adam Reach's centre, Curtis Main swooped on the ball and shot well wide from 22-yards.

When the home fans started to sing ‘There's only one Graham Turner' they were joined by their Molineux counterparts who obviously remembered the work Turned did in his stint in charge of Wanderers.

Weale pulled off a fine save as he turned away an angled drive from Ismail before, at the other end, Carl Ikeme came to the rescue snatching the ball off Aaron Wildig's foot after some hesitancy in the Wolves defence.

Main wasn't far away with a low, long range drive before a corner and then a free-kick from Sako were both cleared by the home rearguard.

Playing the ball about at the back nearly proved costly for Wolves after they lost possession and Ikeme was forced into a full length save after Taylor had prodded Reach's cross goalwards.

Reach and then Wildig had long range shots that were within a foot or two of Ikeme's right-hand post as Town enjoyed a spell of heavy pressure on the visitors goal.

There was a half chance for Leigh Griffiths after he had charged down Joe Jacobson's clearance but Weale just beat the striker to the loose ball.

After being on the backfoot the visitors began to threaten and Sigurdarson fired over from the edge of the box after taking a short pass from Griffiths.

Wanderers were inches away from a 34th minute lead after Kevin McDonald's determination saw him winning the ball in midfield. He fed a pass to Scott Golbourne and his cross was headed against the foot of the post by Sigurdarson. Reach, in attempting to clear, was only just wide of his own goal.

Sako went on a marauding run down the right and he hit a low centre that went straight through the Town goalmouth with no-one there to apply the finishing touch.

Griffiths needed attention after taking a knock and the half ended with a fine 40-yard run from Sigurdarson who was finally dispossessed as he ran into the Shrewsbury box.

Half-Time: Shrewsbury Town 0 Wolves 0

The first threat from either side after the break came when a curling cross from Ismail was punched away by Weale. Then Sigurdarson headed over from a Sako free-kick after Golbourne had been fouled by Taylor to the left of the home area.

Griffiths, with a falling volley, shot over the bar then Town should have taken the lead when Main, from inside the six-yard box, blazed the ball over the ball following Taylor's driven cross.

From a Taylor corner the ball was headed out to Luke Summerfield whose low drive flew through a crowded box straight into the arms of Ikeme.

In the 65th minute there was a double change for Wolves as Griffiths and Ismail were replaced by Jake Cassidy and Dave Edwards. For Shrewsbury born Edwards, it was his first football since picking up an injury in the season's opener at Preston.

Edwards was soon involved as he played a neat ball to Golbourne who ran into the box before he appeared to be nudged off the ball.

David Davis went into the book for a late challenge on Taylor that left the Town man in need of attention.

Ikeme's goal had another close escape when Somerfield sent a powerful header just over the bar after a cross from Ryan Woods and, from a Wolves attack, Matt Doherty cut in from the right and worked a shooting position before firing over the bar.

Sako's left wing corner led to Wolves taking an 84th minute lead. Doherty's header was bound for the back of the net until Taylor handled on the line. He was immediately shown the red card and Sako lashed home the spot-kick.

There was little to trouble Ikeme in the time that remained which included five added minutes as Wolves hit back with a win after their Walsall disappointment.

Full-Time: Shrewsbury Town 0 Wolves 1

Shrewsbury Town: Weale, Jacobson (capt), Summerfield, Jones, Bradshaw(Burke 71), Taylor, Wildig, Goldson, Woods, Reach (McAllister 86), Main.

Unused subs: Anyon, Winfield, McQuade, Smith, Anderson.

Sending-Off: Taylor (84 - deliberate hand ball).

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Golbourne, McDonald, Batth, Ricketts (capt), Ismail (Edwards 65), Davis, Griffiths (Cassidy 65), Sigurdarson (Foley 90), Sako.

Unused subs: Stearman, Price, McAlinden, McCarey.

Booking: Davis (75 - foul).

Referee: P. Gibbs.

Attendance: 9,510 (1,593 away supporters).

Over 600,000 households will be created in the private rented sector (PRS) between 2014 and 2016, according to new research revealed recently at RESI 13, the UK residential conference.

A significant share of the new homes will be financed by major funds, such as APG, M&G, Macquarie and M3, all of which are seeking to take advantage of growing demand for rental accommodation across many parts of the UK by investing in the build-to-let market.

Despite the government's Help to Buy and mortgage guarantees, Britain's housing squeeze is continuing to drive more and more people to rent.

At its RESI 13 keynote presentation, Savills revealed that housing transaction levels remain 46% below their pre-crash levels, stifled by house price growth and mortgage affordability issues.
High mortgage deposit requirements continue to limit affordability, especially for under-35s.

Levels of gross mortgage lending in the first quarter of 2013, when looking at 75-90% loan-to-value mortgages, remain just 33% of their Q3 2007 levels.

With housebuilders failing to develop the number of new homes needed to meet affordable housing demands, more households are being pushed towards to the PRS. Over the next eight years, the UK's increasing population will pile on further pressure, with the DCLG predicting there to be 221,0006 new households created in the UK each year to 2021.

Levels of owner occupation for under-35s have already fallen by a third over the 10 years to 2012, and the average age of a first-time buyer is now 37 - leading to enormous growth in demand for rented stock.

The PRS now accounts for 17% of the UK's housing market, and its share of the market has now overtaken social housing.

Lucian Cook, director of residential research at Savills, said: "The importance of transaction levels tends to be forgotten in the UK. By acting as a constraint on the supply of new homes, they accelerate PRS growth - and this means there is going to be continuing demand for years to come from a professionally developed and managed rented sector. While there are still obstacles to entry, not least low income yields - such high future demand will lead to considerably higher rental growth, which in turn will attract more institutions."