Another mortgage lender is reporting a strong increase in mortgage business, as more people take advantage of lowering interest rates and keen house prices. Government and developer schemes to help homebuyers get on the housing ladder for the first time are also thought to be having an impact, increasing the number of new loans.

Yorkshire Building Society says that it saw an increase in mortgage business in August 2013, confirming it as its busiest month for mortgage lending for almost two years. The amount lent by the Society on mortgages completed in August was up 68% compared to August 2012, and was 28% higher than the value of completions in May 2012, which was the Yorkshire's busiest month last year.

Yorkshire Building Society senior product manager Chris Smith, says: "We enjoyed an exceptionally busy month during August. This was our busiest month for mortgage completions since November 2011, and followed an increase in business month-on-month since the start of 2013. We are focused on lending responsibly and sustainably, and our aim is to help borrowers across all loan-to-value (LTV) levels, including first-time buyers."

Alongside those results, the August House Price Index compiled by the Land Registry, showed an annual price increase of 1.3%, with the average house price in England and Wales now standing at £164,654.

The Coventry Building Society has extended its range of two- and five-year fixed-rate mortgages, with rates cut by 0.3% on some deals, with interest rates now starting at 2.15%. The society has also cut rates on its buy-to-let mortgages. New residential rates, all fixed until 31 December 2015, are offered with £199 booking fees, and include 2.15% at maximum 65% LTV, with an £800 arrangement fee, and 4.29% at maximum 90% LTV with no arrangement fee.

Coventry's new buy-to-let mortgage rates include 3.29% (reduced from 3.49%), fixed until 31 October 2015 at 65% LTV, with a £199 booking fee, £1,749 arrangement fee and early repayment charges (ERCs) payable to 31 October 2015. At 75% LTV, borrowers can get a rate of 4.15% fixed until the sane date with a £250 booking fee and £250 arrangement fee.

The Society's Flexx for Term buy-to-let mortgages are available at 3.49% (reduced from 3.79%) at 65% LTV, with a £250 booking fee, £749 arrangement fee and no ERCs.

Colin Franklin, sales and marketing director, Coventry Building Society, says: "Our highly competitive range has just got even better. We have extended the term on all two- and five-year fixed-rate mortgages by three months, so borrowers can enjoy the security of a great rate for even longer. Buy-to-let investors aren't missing out either, as we have cut rates on selected products including our popular Flexx-for-Term option."

Skipton Building Society has reduced the interest rates it will charge those able to provide a smaller deposit and taking out a new mortgage. Two- and three-year fixed-rate mortgage rates with either a 20% deposit or 15% deposit have been reduced by 0.2%. Loans at 80% loan-to-value (LTV) are available for two-year fixed-rate at 2.68%, with two-year fixed-rate deals at 85% LTV charged at 3.68%. Overpayments of up to 10% per annum is allowed without charge, and free legal and valuation packages are available on remortgages.

Kris Brewster, Skipton's head of products, says: "For some time now, the market's most competitive deals have focused on the lowest LTVs, at around 60% and 75%. However, we felt that the renewed confidence which is starting to filter through provided an ideal opportunity to extend lower rates to LTVs up to 85%, by making some our two- and three-year products even more attractive. We hope this will support both first-time buyers and existing home owners who have maybe been hit by the impact of the credit crunch."

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

The sought-after Suffolk market town of Bury St Edmunds is rich in history with striking architectural heritage, great shopping, an award-winning market, beautiful Cathedral and Abbey gardens, and elegant Georgian squares.

The town is about half an hour's drive from Cambridge (30 miles), and about an hour and a half from London (82 miles). Home-hunters in the area will discover some fantastic new developments of new homes in and around the town, with plenty of choice for buyers of all ages.

Central developments in Bury St Edmunds

Half a mile east of the centre, Hopkins Homes has two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments at Eastgate Rise. Set in a secluded cul-de-sac and priced from £179,995, each home comes with a garage or allocated parking, and is well-situated for both road and rail networks.

For older buyers, McCarthy & Stone are in the process of building a new development of 56 one- and two-bedroom 'assisted living' apartments at Cross Penny Court, in the attractive conservation area near the town centre. Retaining an original Georgian frontage, the interior will offer all the comforts of contemporary design and a range of facilities aimed at its older buyers - such as full wheelchair accessibility, 24-hour site staffing, a security entry system, a table service restaurant, mobility scooter charging and storage, and domestic assistance, amongst many other services. Prices are due to be released in October 2013 with a sales complex launching in February 2014.

Rural developments in the surrounding area

For buyers seeking a village lifestyle, Taylor Wimpey has a collection of one- to three-bedroom apartments, coach houses and terraced houses at Concept in Red Lodge, 13 miles from Bury St Edmunds. Priced from £104,995 to £187,995 and offering potential for investors to buy-to-let at yields of as much as 8%, these homes are close to the US Air Force base at Mildenhall and the RAF base at Lakenheath. For buyers searching for their own home, the development offers easy access to the A14 and A11 to Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and London. The government's Help to Buy scheme can help eligible first-time buyers purchase a new home there with a deposit of just 5%. The government backs an equity loan of up to 20% (interest-free for five years), which means buyers need only secure a 75% mortgage.

Just south of the small market town of Stowmarket, 14 miles from Bury St Edmunds, Bovis Homes' Gipping View offers a collection of three- and five-bedroom homes priced from £194,950. This development is ideally placed for commuters to Ipswich, which is also about 14 miles away, or to Bury St Edmunds. It combines the ease of modern living with the tranquillity of open countryside, and is within walking distance of the bustling town centre with its wide range of facilities. The local catchment incorporates a number of schools for all ages, and the town has its own mainline railway station with direct links to London, Liverpool Street (journey time one hour 30 minutes).

The Business Secretary Vince Cable is calling on the government to reconsider its flagship Help to Buy scheme because he fears that the housing market could be heading for a bubble.

Under the first stage of the initiative, an equity loan scheme permits buyers with just a 5% deposit to purchase a new-build home worth up to £600,000. In January, the scheme will be extended to include a mortgage guarantee for buyers of any residential property up to the same value with deposits of 5% and 20%.

But Mr Cable suggested that the government needed to rethink the Help to Buy scheme in "light of changing market conditions". "We don't want a new housing bubble," he said during an interview in Glasgow recently.

Mr Cable is not the only person to voice concerns about the impact that the Help to Buy scheme is having on the market. "Vince Cable's comments on Help to Buy are valid especially considering the potential impact of the scheme on London's housing market," said Sue Foxley, head of research at Cluttons. "Schemes such as Help to Buy and Funding for Lending have enabled a number of purchasers to get on the ladder. However, in highly restricted residential areas of the south east, an increase in mortgage availability in the absence of new [homes] supply can only result in price rises well ahead of earnings."

The latest Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association's (IMLA) Intermediary Lending Outlook shows that almost two thirds of intermediary lenders and mortgage brokers single out a property price bubble as the most likely factor that may undermine the government's Help to Buy scheme.

Other high-profile organisations to express concerns regarding the government's flagship property scheme include the IMF, the Office for Budget Responsibility, Treasury select committee and the Bank of England.

Your hallway doesn't simply have to be the means by which you get from one room to another. No! It can become something of a showcase in its own right if you following these tips from the team at WhatHouse.co.uk:

1. Widen a narrow hallway

If you live in the UK, chances are you will have one of those ‘corridor' hallways. If you'd like to give it more of a square shape or just appear larger overall then there's clever tricks you can do with colour. For instance, you could paint the end walls a bright rich colour such as violet or burnt orange and keep the length in plain or pastel shades to make the end walls more prominent. You could also paint doors in the hallway a bit darker than the walls.

2. Shorten a narrow hallway

Erect a large mirror opposite the doorway. This won't just ‘open' up the hallway to make it seem wider, it'll also add a lot more light - perfect for halls with small windows or no light at all. Feng shui adherents ignore - apparently the discipline believes that a mirror opposite a doorway results in a loss of luck!

3. Lighten up a dark hallway

Lighting is important in a hallway as many tend to be a tad on the dark side. Go overboard rather than under, with lighting fixtures such as decorative wall sconces (the more decorative the better as they'll draw attention) or, if your ceiling is high, a line of low lying pendant lights. A table lamp on a console is a nice bright touch too.

4. Ultilise a large, square hallway

If you're lucky enough to have a big entrance hall then don't waste it. That nook underneath the stairs can be turned into a handy storage cupboard or, better still, put a desk with lamp in there and use it as a cosy office. Maybe you're even lucky enough to be able to get a table in your hallway? If so, use it for dining and convert your dining room into another bedroom. Who says you can't eat in the hall?

5. Create character in a featureless hallway

One trick we did ourselves was add a picture rail to our tall tenement hallway. This didn't just bring down the height, but also added a bit of a decorative element to the space. Other tricks include putting in an old coat stand (or, in our case, a mannequin - which was also handy for storing scarves, hats and seasonal jackets).

Really there's lots of tricks you can use to change the shape and outlook of your hallway. The above are only just scratching the surface. Why not go forth today and decorate!

Buyers looking to find a new home in Midlothian are spoiled for choice. Not only are there loads of new-build properties available, they come in all shapes and sizes with something to suite every taste, budget and family size. Midlothian's proximity to Edinburgh makes it popular with commuters who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city on their days off or who simply want to get more for their money than they perhaps would in the city centre.

Persimmon Homes' Dewar Park development in Gorebridge has something to suit everyone from one-bedroom apartments starting at £105,000 to five-bedroom detached villas costing £240,000. Amongst the homes available, the ‘Leith' comes in at £210,000 and features a formal lounge, open-plan kitchen and dining room, utility room, WC and garage on the ground floor. The upstairs of this detached property comprises a master bedroom with en suite shower room, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Hopefield View is a Stewart Milne Homes development boasting a collection of one- and two bedroom apartments as well as three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom family homes. The Bonnyrigg site is only eight miles from Edinburgh city centre and available properties include the ‘Laurieston', a detached villa priced from £335,000 with lounge, dining room, breakfasting kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, master bedroom with en suite and walk-in wardrobe, guest bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms, family bathroom and a detached double garage.

A choice of three- and four-bedroom properties is offered at Duchess Park, a Bellway Homes development in Dalkeith. The site is well placed for families with the Dalkeith Community Campus, which hosts both Dalkeith High and St David's RC High schools, just a short distance away. The ‘Wentworth D' is a detached villa priced from £254,995. Downstairs the breakfasting kitchen creates the hub of the home while a formal lounge and a dining room provide excellent spaces for entertaining. The upper floor consists of a master bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is also a detached single garage.

Situated in the village of Newtongrange, Wester Lea is a Cruden Homes development of two- and three-bedroom homes aimed at couples and young families. Two house types are available at the moment including the ‘Rosebery' end terraced villa which costs £169,995 and comprises an open-plan living and dining room, kitchen, downstairs WC, master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en suite shower room, two further bedrooms and a bathroom. Alternatively, the ‘Loganlea' can be purchased from £111,996 when taking advantage of the house builder's shared equity scheme. Downstairs the living room leads through to the kitchen and dining area while upstairs two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and a family bathroom complete the picture.

Residential property developer Larkfleet Homes has signed an exclusive deal with Melton Mowbray Building Society which will give qualifying buyers of Larkfleet properties access to a mortgage at just 2.39% interest for the first three years.

After the initial period the rate goes up to the building society's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% - giving an overall cost over the life of the mortgage of 4.5% APR.

Larkfleet Homes managing director Karl Hick says: "This deal - which is not available from any other housebuilder - will help to keep repayments low during the crucial first few years of a mortgage, a time when house buyers' budgets are often most stretched. But the deal also offers an opportunity to pay off up to 10% of the loan during the first year with no early repayment charges."

The arrangement with Melton Mowbray Building Society is just one of the ways in which Larkfleet is seeking to assist people get onto or move up the property ladder. On several of its developments across the East of England and East Midlands it is offering the government's Help to Buy scheme.

The scheme allows homebuyers to potentially own 100% of their new home with just a 75% mortgage and 5% deposit. Homebuyers using Help to Buy receive an equity loan from the government for the 20% of the property value not covered by their deposit and mortgage. The equity loan is interest-free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is available to first-time buyers and to current homeowners who are selling to buy a new home. There is no ‘cap' on household income in order to be eligible and there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property bought under the scheme may have.

Help to Buy is available on properties at Larkfleet's Abbeyfields development in Bourne (Lincolnshire), its Leighfield Park development in Oakham (Rutland) and The Coppice development in Deeping St James (Lincolnshire) - all of which are also offering the Melton Mowbray Building Society mortgage to qualifying buyers.

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 West

David Wilson Homes - Friday 27 September, from 10.30am - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at The Gateway, Melksham, Wiltshire and Langford Mead, Taunton, Somerset.

David Wilson Homes - Saturday 28 September, from 10.30am - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at Waterbrook Ways, Brockworth and Haresfield Chase, Hunts Grove, both in Gloucestershire; Lakeside View in Westbury, Wiltshire; Aginshill Meadow, Taunton and Withies Bridge, Radstock, both in Somerset; Charlton Hayes in Bristol; and in Devon, Kingfisher Reach in Cullompton and Hillside Gardens and Rougemont Park, both in Exeter.

David Wilson Homes - Friday 27 to Sunday 29 September, from 10.30am to 5.30pm - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at two developments in Devon: The Spires in Ermington and Rydon Lawns in Exeter.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 28 September, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - First-Time Buyer event at the company's Wichelstowe development outside Swindon, Wiltshire. Find out about purchase assistance schemes and the range of properties on sale and a chance to enter a free draw for tickets and hospitality at Swindon Town versus Leyton Orient in November.

Wales

David Wilson Homes - Friday 27 September, from 11.00am to 1.00pm - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at Centurian Park, Caerwent, Monmouthshire; Glas y Dorlan, Neath, Port Talbot; and Otter's Holt, Sarn, Bridgend.

Redrow Homes - Friday 27 September, from 10.00am to 5.30pm - Launch of Gladstone Leigh off Overlea Drive in Hawarden, Flintshire, a scheme of 44 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. A new marketing suite will be open daily from that date.
Scotland

Miller Homes - Sunday 29 September, from 12.00noon to 4.00pm - Have your family portrait done in the show home by professional photographer Ian Fallon at Gala Meadow in Galashiels. The development offers two-, three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £125,000.

North West

Redrow Homes - Friday 27 September, from 10.00am to 12.00noon - ‘Big Coffee Morning' event at several developments across the region to celebrate the 23rd birthday of Macmillan's annual fundraising event: Crown Park, Huntington, Cheshire; Harbour Village, Fleetwood; Sandhurst Gardens and Sandy Lane, Chorley; and Birch Grange, Wardle. Redrow will donate £10 for everyone who attends this free event at the development.

North East

Redrow Homes - Sunday 29 September - '15-Minute Mortgage Challenge' event at Holtby Gardens, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 £144,950.

Redrow Homes - Friday 27 September, from 10.00am to 12.00noon - ‘Big Coffee Morning' event at Oaklands, Easingwold, North Yorkshire to celebrate the 23rd birthday of Macmillan's annual fundraising event. Redrow will donate £10 for everyone who attends this free event at the development.

Miller Homes - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September - Help to Buy event at Cleminson Halls in Thwaite Street, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire, with three- and four-bedroom homes from £189,950.

South East

Redrow Homes - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September - '15-Minute Mortgage Challenge' event at Hedera Green, Royston, Hertfordshire. Mortgage specialists in attendance to provide help and guidance to prospective purchasers. Help to Buy is available on a range of four-bedroom properties at the development, priced from £357,995.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, from 11.00am to 5.00pm - A new show home is unveiled at Grenfell Park, Taplow, Berkshire, along with a new sales information centre. The ‘Kennedy' detached house (priced from £420,000) is one of a range of four- and five-bedroom properties available at the development.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Launch of Sherwood Grove, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. A collection of two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses will be unveiled at the company's Willow Lake development in nearby Newton Leys.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 28 September, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - First-Time Buyer event at the company's Old Kiln Lakes development in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. Find out about purchase assistance schemes and the range of properties on sale priced from £238,000 for a two-bedroom ‘Belford' terraced house.

David Wilson Homes - Friday 27 to Sunday 29 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at two developments on the Isle of Wight: Victoria Walk in East Cowes and Abbey Mews in Newport; two developments in Hampshire: Purbrook Place in Purbrook and Windmill View, Clanfield; and at Lillies Hill, Felpham, West Sussex.

Barratt Homes - Friday 27 to Sunday 29 September, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - An invitation to participate in Macmillan's ‘World's Biggest Coffee Morning' event at Bluebell Meadows in Newport, Isle of Wight.

Kier Homes - Saturday 28 September - Launch of Arbour Mews in Harlow, Essex. Located on the fringes of Harlow Town Park, this collection of just nine family homes. Prices start from £479,995 for a four-bedroom home, with Part Exchange available.

London

L&Q - Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September - Launch weekend of Woolwich Central, London SE18, a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available on a shared ownership basis.

The buy-to-let sector has been one of the strongest parts of the mortgage market in 2013 with landlords using low-cost investment mortgages to snap up rental properties. However, new information published in the Daily Mail has revealed that buy-to-let loans were all set to be banned by new EU mortgage regulations.

Intervention from the National Landlords Association and extensive lobbying on behalf of British landlords has given the loans a reprieve.

NLA lobbying helps exempt buy-to-let mortgages from new regulations

The Daily Mail reports that "early drafts of new mortgage rules currently being approved by the European Union would have banned buy-to-let loans completely and were only reversed after lobbying by UK landlords".

This autumn, the EU is set to pass a new mortgage directive aimed at creating a single regulatory framework to govern all mortgages within the EU and the early drafts of this proposal would have outlawed buy-to-let mortgages by telling lenders that they could not take rental income into account when assessing a borrower's creditworthiness.

According to the National Landlords Association (NLA) the early drafts of the rules didn't take into account the nuances of unusual mortgage products such as buy-to-let that only exist in Britain and Ireland.

However, after "working extensively with several European Parliaments and other organisations" the NLA has helped secure a complete exemption for buy-to-let mortgages from the directive. David Cox, senior policy officer for the NLA, says: "The NLA is very pleased with the EU's decision to exclude buy-to-let mortgages from the directive. We have lobbied hard to ensure the UK's main facility for investing in property to rent can remain in place. "The private rented sector is currently the only growing part of the UK's housing market and I am certain that a mortgage directive including buy-to-let mortgages would have prohibited this."

Keith Osborne from WhatHouse.co.uk believes the rules could have had a devastating effect on the UK's mortgage and rental market: "Had these rules been passed it would have become almost impossible for a landlord to secure a mortgage on a rental property. With no access to mortgage finance it would have meant landlords could not buy rental stock, leading to a shortage of rental properties and a steep rise in rents."

The new EU mortgage directive is set to come into force this autumn and will also require all lenders to display a new APR figure on all marketing. Mortgage lenders will have to display ‘worst-case scenarios' to residential borrowers looking to obtain a loan by listing the maximum interest rate it has charged over the past two decades.

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

AFC Wimbledon has submitted a planning application to Merton Council to deliver around 600 new homes as part of its proposed redevelopment of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, as the football club steps up its bid to move back to Plough Lane in southwest London.

Wimbledon wants to build an 11,000-seat stadium at a cost of around £16m. The Dons also want to team up with housebuilder Galliard Homes to deliver 600 homes at the Plough Lanes site. The residential element of the project would feature a wide selection of new-build homes, including a significant number of affordable homes.

Merton Council will now consider the plan against other proposals for the stadium site, which includes a plan to redevelop with a new greyhound stadium and construct new homes.

The original Wimbledon FC was forced to leave Plough Lane in 1991 following the publication of the Taylor Report, published in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster. The report recommended that all top-flight sides should play in all-seater stadia. The original Wimbledon shared Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace until 2002, when they were given the go-ahead to move to Milton Keynes.

AFC Wimbledon, which was formed in response to the relocation, have played all their home games at Kingsmeadow since 2003. The League Two club says the submission of its plans is "a significant step" in fulfilling its ambition to return to its traditional home in the London Borough of Merton.

Erik Samuelson, chief executive of AFC Wimbledon, says: "There is a long way to go before our plans become a reality. Before we can submit a planning application, there are two significant hurdles that must be overcome. First, we must win the support of Merton Council for our proposal that the site should be developed as a football stadium. Second, the designation must be reviewed and approved by an independent inspector. The review will cover all the sites in Merton and it is likely that the result won't be known until about March 2014."

Marc Da Silva continues his weekly series of interviews with senior figures in the housebuilding industry by putting some questions to Bob Weston, chairman and managing director of renowned regional developer, Weston Homes.

Where is your company currently developing new homes? We operate across London and the South East and we are extending our geographic area by investing in new land, infrastructure and people through the creation of three divisions covering a swathe of the south east. Our plan is to double the size of the business in three years, and by restructuring into divisions with responsibility for North, South and East.

At the moment, our portfolio comprises 21 active developments across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, East Sussex and Cambridge.

What type of homes are Weston Homes building? Everything; from complex conversions of listed properties to large regeneration projects, apartment blocks with their own challenges to individual family homes, and even experimental eco-homes that blaze a trail in innovation and provide a model for how we can integrate new technologies into our future projects.

We've grown our business a great deal in the last 26 years. Our very first development was a four-bedroom family home in Essex, and now we cater not only for families but also singles, young and old, retirees and professionals, downsizers and first-time buyers, as well as investors. We pride ourselves on being the best at what we do. The homes we provide are high-quality, good-value properties in locations carefully chosen for their transport connections and growth potential.

What other schemes do you have in the pipeline? At the moment, we are gearing up to launch a new development called Silver Brook in Markyate, in Hertfordshire. We acquired the site at the end of 2012 and by the time Silver Brook officially launches in late October, we'll have delivered a show house, street scene, and the sales and marketing suite - all within 10 months. The opportunity to redevelop the site provides significant benefits for the entire village not only creating a new collection of excellent homes - both affordable and private - to meet the local housing needs, but to deliver additional retail and commercial space for the community as well. Silverbrook will comprise 73 houses and apartments and we'll also restore a section of the River Ver, so that the brook winds through the site.

We also have a very active pipeline and some great schemes to look forward to, which we'll be announcing in due course. These new developments follow the acquisition of sites in Hornchurch, Napsbury and Edgware Football Club to name but a few. Currently, our active and pipeline developments equate to a combined GDV of over £300m.

How much does a new home by Weston Homes cost to buy? We cater to a very wide market ranging from £120k to £1m and more. It really depends on the site as we do not have a single target. We tailor each development to the best market, unlocking value and attracting a wide range of buyers.

Why should more buyers consider buying a new-build home as opposed to older property? New-build properties have many obvious benefits, none of which should be understated. A new home is a blank canvas, covered by a ten-year build warranty, built to purpose making clever use of space and storage, and is compliant with the most up-to-date health and safety regulations.

Probably one of the most attractive aspects, particularly with energy prices rising relentlessly upwards, is the energy efficiency of modern homes.

The construction standards and levels of insulation required under the code for sustainable homes dictates that new-builds have significantly reducedenergy costs, compared with homes built even as recently as the 90s.

Is it worth buying property during the off-plan stage of construction? It's all down to personal choice. Some buyers prefer to buy a home that they can see; others want to be involved in the process. Those with the vision can gain an edge by choosing their home at the start, and then tailoring it to their own tastes. Buying off-plan is one of the ways that purchasers can bespoke their homes, changing finishes and fixtures and sometimes even the layout. Buying off-plan is also a sure way for the purchaser to secure the best plot for their needs, picking the roomiest property with the terrace or balcony or the view that sets the home apart.

Which of the developments Weston Homes is currently developing do you think stands the best chance of winning a What House? Award? We've got several developments that are worthy contenders, but we're particularly proud of our latest, Silver Brook in Markyate.

The design of the homes and the landscaping takes cues from the historic centre of beautiful Markyate, which is a designated conservation area containing a number of listed buildings dating back to the 19th century. In one of the UK's most beautiful counties, the homes are perfectly placed to enjoy the country lifestyle, whilst still benefitting from great transport links for easy commuting. I'm also proud of the fact we have opened up and diverted the River Ver, which was previously hidden in pipes under an industrial estate, so that it create a feature through the heart of the development, enhancing the landscaping and but the integration of the site with the rest of Markyate. But we'll need to enter this one next year!

Alarm bells may be ringing in the Wolves midfield after recent performances, but what is reassuring for fans is the knowledge that head coach Kenny Jackett hears those bells even more clearly than we do.

Hopefully he can silence them, for a worrying theme is emerging, with Wolves once again being over-run in the centre of the park against Shrewsbury Town. Jackett is an intelligent man; a shrewd tactician, an acute observer and very aware that Wolves have been flattered by recent results.

You can forgive the occasional misplaced pass, but you cannot excuse players not tracking their runners. That is just sloppy and needs to be eradicated quickly.

Jackett and Joe Gallen work very hard on shape in training and players' roles are made abundantly clear and they all know what is expected of them where and when.

But it is not always translating onto the pitch. Even if it is not your man, if you see the danger pick him up. Training sessions can set up different scenarios; on match day you have to react to what is happening around you, work it out for yourself and talk to your team-mates.

Yes there are some young players making their way, but with the quality in the squad we really should be dominating games for longer periods and cut defences open more often.

But once again Wolves ground out an away win, bouncing back from the home defeat to Walsall. Back to back derby losses would have been unthinkable and it was always going to be a difficult week, so scrapping out a victory at Shrewsbury Town was vital in keeping up momentum. Jackett admits Wolves are still very much a work in progress, but let's remember we are still sitting third in the table.

Once again our away following was extraordinary. Wolves are going into the lion's den every time as the biggest scalp in the league and meanwhile the home teams are counting the money our supporters are bringing into town.

League One is not where any of us wants to be, but some away trips are already entering into folklore, with mini-buses hired and pub tours organized.

Never underestimate the importance of travelling support. To run onto enemy soil and be greeted by thousands of passionate, noisy fans in your corner gives the players an incredible lift and they do genuinely appreciate the effort.

And one of those supporters at Greenhous Meadow was a certain Steve Bull. His love for and loyalty to Wolves is absolute and infectious. There is our record goal-scorer and club legend being what he is, a passionate fan.

I love the fact that many supporters, when asked by the official Wolves website on Saturday for their man of the match chose Bully!

He is part of the brickwork at Molineux and part of the travelling support away from home. If it is possible Bully became even more popular on Saturday. Everyone can relate to him and in this day and age, when many top players live in a bubble behind the celebrity red rope, not many fans can say that about their heroes.

Wolves stays with you long after you've retired - make that forever. The reception you get back at the club from fans and staff alike is always fantastic. That special family feeling has been missing a bit in the last couple of years, but the togetherness is coming back.

It has been very tough with staff losing their jobs, but Jackett is re-instilling that unity and pride in every facet of this great club and everyone wants to play their part in its revival.

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Last week I pulled on the boots and gloves and took to the pitch at Molineux. It was a game dominated by penalties -probably a hundred of them.

Club sponsor WhatHouse? had organised a new homes debate in partnership with Countrywide at Molineux in the morning, followed by delegates taking penalties against me in the afternoon.

It was all for fun and to raise money for the Wolves Community Trust, but I still got a buzz being back on the pitch. It still feels like only yesterday I was out there.

The old competitive edge kicked in; not least because my first opponent was club chairman and Redrow Homes boss Steve Morgan, who is a pretty competitive animal himself! I won that particular head-to-head with the chairman only getting one past me. I'm guessing Bakary Sako had not being studying the boss's technique ahead of his winning penalty at Shrewsbury, although I hear Steve Morgan still plays a pretty good game of five-a-side football most weeks.

Whatever the occasion I still hate the ball hitting the back of the net and kept thinking ‘I would have got to that one a few years ago.'

I did get beaten by a couple of young ladies, but my excuse was there was no video footage of previous penalties they'd taken, so couldn't do my usual diligent research. Okay, I may have been distracted. Let's face it they were better looking than most of the penalty-takers I've faced at Molineux down the years!

Matt Murray is an ambassador for whathouse.co.uk

Admittedly it's getting easier these days to obtain credit - especially if you're in the market for a mortgage. But, for many of us, our credit rating is still letting us down.

Big Time. In a way that's good, as it means we can't get in to any more debt. On the downside though, what if our old banger of a car breaks down and we need to buy another? Here are ways to make your credit rating look good (or at least better):

1. Cancel old credit cards

Maybe you've even forgotten you have them. Sometimes, even though you've paid off the balance, banks don't cancel them so you'll still be listed as having a lot of cards (particularly if, like us, you're in the habit of transferring balances to avoid big interest charges).

2. Run up a good record

Make sure you always pay your credit card bills off in time and never have to be chased up for payments. New lenders like to see someone who can be relied on not to default.

3. Seek credit slowly

In other words, don't apply for a handful of credit cards at once, which can be tempting if you believe some of them will refuse you. That's because the more lenders' footprints there are on your credit file, the less likely someone is to give you money as it smacks a bit of desperation and, some believe, even potential fraud.

4. Haul out the history

It's not always just your own credit background that gets taken into account when you're applying for credit. Especially if you're renting, often the previous resident's names and credit history will be included. Your ex-partner's might be too if you've shared a joint bank account, as well as other family members who live at the same address. You can get the big companies like Experian and Equifaxto check your credit rating for a small charge.

5. Value your vote

Not surprisingly, creditors like to see official proof of who they're intending to lend money to. The best way to obtain this is via the electoral register. That's why, even if you don't actually use your vote it's still very good to be registered, credit-wise.

6. Look for leniency

What if you've had difficulty with credit in the past due to redundancy, having to fork out university fees, or splitting up with a partner, and are now back on your feet? If so, it's an idea to write to those responsible for accruing your credit report and letting them know to this effect so they can inform future lenders. After all, people's circumstances will always change throughout their lives.

Getting credit these days isn't easy but it's not impossible either, especially if you apply most of the above tips. Good luck!

New figures from a leading mortgage broker have shown that an overwhelming majority of new home buyers are choosing a fixed-rate mortgage product. Cheap deals and the peace of mind of guaranteed repayments are responsible for over nine in ten new purchase mortgages being taken on a fixed-rate basis.

However, while new buyers are continuing to take fixed rates, remortgage borrowers are increasingly likely to choose a variable product. The number of remortgage clients taking a variable deal rose from 9.5% in July to 20.8% in August, buoyed by recent Bank of England comments.

Nine out of ten house buyers choose a fixed-rate mortgage

New data from more than 500 brokers and 800 estate agents published in the Daily Telegraph has revealed that 91.2% of new purchase mortgages in August were taken on a fixed-rate basis and just 8.8% on a variable rate. This is a slight decrease on July's figures but higher than the 83.1% of mortgages taken on a fixed rate in August 2012.

"It's clear that the vast majority of people buying a new home want the peace of mind of guaranteed repayments," says Keith Osborne, editor of WhatHouse.co.uk. "Even though the cost of variable-rate deals has fallen, new home buyers like the certainty of a fixed rate and many have been able to lock in at an excellent interest rate."

While new house buyers continue to prefer fixed-rate products, remortgage borrowers are increasingly prepared to take a variable rate deal. 20.8% of remortgages in August were taken on a variable rate, up from just 9.5% in July.

"Recent comments from the Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, have indicated that the Base rate is set to remain at its current level for a further three years," continues Osborne. "With the cost of variable rate deals also falling, consumers are increasingly prepared to accept lower repayments backed by the assurance that they can expect their mortgage rate to remain at this level until unemployment falls significantly."

Date published in the Daily Telegraph showed that the average cost of a two-year fixed-rate mortgage rose in August to 3.69%. However, the average cost of a two-year variable-rate mortgage is now just 3.14%. On a £150,000 repayment mortgage over 25 years the variable rate deal is around £45 per month cheaper.

"If interest rates are set to stay lower then clearly more people are going to be tempted to choose a variable rate if it offers lower repayments," adds Osborne. "However, interest rates only have one way to go and so I expect to see borrowers continue to prefer fixed deals over the next few months."

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

For house-hunters looking for executive new homes in the northern Home Counties, regional housebuilder Jarvis Homes has an impressive portfolio of luxurious properties in some of the most sought-after areas.

The company's ethos remains the same as when it was founded back in 1905: to create quality new homes in exclusive locations across the region that incorporate skilled craftsmanship, and complement their local surroundings. Jarvis Homes currently has new properties available at a number of small developments in Hertfordshire.

In the hamlet of Gaddesden in the Chiltern Hills, less than six miles north of Hemel Hempstead, Beechwood View is a gated development of just four semi-detached, traditional, cottage-style family homes. Built on substantial plots with large gardens and lovely country views, only two homes now remain available, priced from £735,000. The homes offer four to five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a large open-plan kitchen and breakfast or family room, a 120-foot back garden, a landscaped front garden, and parking space for two or three cars.

For families there is an excellent choice of private and state schools in the area, while for shopping trips the period high street of Redbourn village is only four miles away, packing in plenty of amenities including shops, pubs and restaurants. When it comes to commuting, Luton is just eight miles to the north east; the M1 and M25 motorways are conveniently close by; and there are nearby airports at London Luton (nine miles) and London Heathrow (28 miles).

Just one impressive four-bedroom, renovated family home is due to be completed in October 2013 at 21 Wood End in Harpenden, a very desirable and affluent commuter town with a direct rail connection into London. Less than six miles from Luton, and just over 30 miles from London, the guide price for this property is £1.395m including four double bedrooms, three bath/shower rooms, three reception rooms, a spacious kitchen/family room, and a double garage.

Two brand new four-bedroom, detached family homes are also available in the Wood End area, in a quiet cul-de-sac setting called Osprey Close, priced from £975,000. Each property also offers three bath/shower rooms, two reception rooms, a spacious kitchen/family room, a single garage, and a garden.

For bigger families looking for an even larger home, 62 New Road is a detached, five-bedroom property on a generous one-acre plot in the ancient village of Digswell, on the edge of Welwyn Garden City. With four bathrooms, three reception rooms and a double garage, this impressive property offers a total of around 5,500 square feet. Many other towns and cities are also within commuting distance of Digswell, including Luton (13 miles), Stevenage (eight miles) and London (28 miles).

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 Wales, Cumbria, London, Essex and Northumberland.

New affordable homes in Wales

A £120m scheme to help fund the development of over 1,000 affordable homes in Wales is being launched. In a bid to help boost the supply of new homes, the Welsh government will provide housing associations with annual grants for 30 years to help them borrow money from a private lender for the construction of much required new homes in Wales.

Affordable homes in Kendal

Preparatory work has started on a £10.6m housing development in east Kendal for 94 new homes, 50% of which will be affordable homes for local people. The scheme, which is a partnership development by Russell Armer Homes, Impact Housing, the Cumbria LEP and SLDC, has been planned for over 10 years.

Affordable new homes in London

Southwark Council's planning committee has granted full planning permission to King's College for a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Mulberry Business Park site in south east London's Canada Water. The scheme includes the construction of four blocks to comprise a total of 770 student bedrooms, 33 affordable homes, offices, shops and a health centre.

New affordable homes in Flintshire

Flintshire Council could set up a new company to provide affordable housing in Flintshire after a new report found that many local people were having trouble finding somewhere to live due to financial pressures.

Affordable homes in Southend

Work to clear one of Southend's worst eyesores to make way for almost 50 affordable homes is scheduled to get underway next week. Southend Council will officially hand over the site of the former Maybrook Training Centre and Burland House, in Southchurch Road, Southend, to housing association the Guinness Trust today.

Affordable new homes in Northumberland

Plans for six affordable homes in the north Northumberland village of Chathill have been submitted to the county council. Applicant Rob Wealleans wants to develop six three-bedroom, semi-detached properties on land adjacent to the local train station.

With the local market for new homes thriving, Bancon Homes is offering assistance to house-hunters in Aberdeenshire who want to make a move to a new-build property, in the form of the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme recently introduced by the Scottish government.

With only two properties available across all its sites across Aberdeen, the housebuilder is about to start work on the construction of its next scheme, Aspire - Union Grove, which is situated in the sought-after West End of the Granite City. The development will feature a mix of new-build and refurbished properties, with mews-style homes alongside a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Nearly all of the homes at this scheme qualify to be purchased with Help to Buy (Scotland).

Iain Innes, managing director of Bancon Homes said: "We have experienced a very successful sales period and Aspire will cater for the robust market in the city which overall, according to Registers of Scotland, has seen a 61% increase in residential transactions between April and June, compared to the first three months of the year. Annually, this represents an increase of more than 23% against 2012's figures.

"The desire for city properties, from our perspective, is reflected in the sell-out of all 33 properties at our HazelGrove development, with just the showhome and one property remaining for sale at The Grange at Pitfodels and Airyhall House respectively. With the cost of renting properties spiralling it makes sense to buy for many people now."

Further good news for house-hunters in Aberdeenshire is that Bancon Homes will be the only housebuilder in the area offering Help to Buy at its Kemsley Green development in Aboyne, where it has just announced a new selection of homes for sale, with prices starting at £283,000.

Mr Innes said: "The market in Aberdeen continues to grow apace, with demand outstripping supply. That said, we're beginning to see this trend increasingly reflected in more rural areas as well as in our suburban developments.

"In response to a recent 20% increase in sales at Kemsley Green in the vibrant community of Aboyne, we will be making more luxury family homes available in this development with benefits such as the wealth of activities in the area - from gliding to orienteering and hill-walking in glens, forests and moorland; water ski-ing at Aboyne Loch or ski-ing at nearby Glenshee or the Lecht; bowling, tennis and rugby. There is also a range of excellent golf courses - and all within 25 miles of the global subsea centre of excellence at Westhill."

The show home at Kemsley Green is open from Friday to Sunday, from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

House-hunters in and around the city of Durham in North East England currently have a fantastic selection of new developments to choose from within easy commuting distance of the city centre. From first-time buyers looking for purchase assistance schemes on starter homes through to upsizing families, there are options to suit every buyer within a ten-mile radius of the city centre.

Just over a mile and a half south west of Durham city centre, Renaissance is a Bett Homes development in the former mining village of Langley Moor. Offering an exclusive selection of brand new house types priced from £215,995, all the homes are designed for modern family living. The village itself is home to pubs, a supermarket, independent shops, pharmacies, dentists, a nursery, and a primary school. Up to ten buses an hour provide links to Durham, and there are also services in the direction of the Durham Dales and Crook. Those buyers with an existing home to sell could take advantage of Bett's Part Exchange scheme; the NewBuy initiative makes 95% mortgages available; and with Help to Buy, buyers need only save a 5% deposit, and are lent a government-backed equity loan of up to 20% of the purchase price.

On the northern side of the city, Barratt Homes is now building the final phase of its Beechwood development in Sacriston, another former mining village situated about five miles from central Durham. Surrounded by rolling countryside, Beechwood has new homes priced from £101,995, proving popular with first time buyers and young families. Barratt's final phase incorporates two-, three- and four-bedroom terraced and detached homes in a village with a strong sense of community. For its size, Sacriston offers an excellent range of amenities including several schools, a new community centre, a new health centre, a post office, numerous shops and supermarkets, and a bank - with Durham itself very close by for shopping trips and entertainment.

About nine miles south east of Durham city centre in the peaceful village of Coxhoe, Barratt Homes has another development called The Limes, offering two-, three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £175,500. Appealing to professionals and young families, this new community offers a range of local shops, a primary school, a doctors' surgery, and superb links to the employment areas of the North East.

Sustainable two- to five-bedroom homes in contemporary designs are available at Elba Park from David Wilson Homes, situated on the former Lambton coke works site in Houghton-le-Spring, about seven miles from Durham. Priced from £154,500, these homes are situated in a country park within a new community, surrounded by rural walks and trails, and with a good range of local shops within easy reach. There is a local primary school a mile and a half from Elba Park, and bus services run from just outside the development's main entrance to Washington, Chester-le-Street and Durham.

Nine miles from Durham in Spennymoor, David Wilson Homes also has a collection of elegant three-, four- and five-bedroom homes priced from £174,995 to £246,500 at its David Wilson at Burton Woods development. The homes offer generous living spaces, and make good use of natural light. The semi-rural setting of Whitworth Park combines gorgeous scenery with quick and easy access to the historic heart of Durham for commuters. Spennymoor itself has a good range of everyday amenities including shops and pubs; the popular Victoria Jubilee Park; a leisure centre housing a swimming pool, gym and many other facilities; and a bio-park to encourage local wildlife.

Boasting one of the highest standards of living in Scotland, Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan city with a wide range of new-build properties available to potential buyers.

Situated in the popular suburb of Dyce, Devona Gate is a Barratt Homes development of two- and three-bedroom properties priced from £212,995 to £266,995. The site is close to public transport links into the city centre and there are plenty of restaurants, pubs, shops and leisure facilities for after hours and weekend entertainment. Available homes include the ‘Turnberry'; a three-bedroom townhouse set over three storeys. The ground floor comprises the integral garage as well as a bedroom with en-suite shower room. The kitchen, open-plan lounge and dining room and family bathroom make up the middle floor while upstairs two bedrooms and a shower room complete the picture.

Part of CALA Homes' Scholar's Gate development at The Campus, The Esslemont Building has a selection of two-bedroom apartments still available. Prices here start from £250,000 for a ground floor property including an open-plan kitchen and living room with floor to ceiling windows, fitted wardrobes to both bedrooms, a bathroom and ample storage space. The scheme is set on the grounds of a former university in the Hilton area of Aberdeen and is conveniently located for the city centre.

Persimmon Homes' Charleston development features a collection of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom properties in the Cove Bay area in the south of the city. Properties currently on the market here include the ‘Troon' house type, which will set you back £339,000 and boasts a formal living room, open-plan kitchen and dining area with French doors to the rear garden, utility room, downstairs WC, master bedroom with en suite, three further double bedrooms, a single bedroom/study, family bathroom and an integral garage.

Stoneywood is a Dandara development situated on the grounds of the Stoneywood Estate in Dyce, 15 minutes away from the city centre. The housebuilder has carefully designed these new homes in Aberdeen to complement the historical surroundings while ensuring the high-speculations expected by today's house buyers have not been sacrificed. Available homes include the ‘Maple', which features a formal lounge with double doors leading to the open-plan kitchen and dining room. The first floor is home to a master bedroom with en suite shower, room, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The property also benefits from a utility room, downstairs WC, garage and ample storage.

A retired couple are looking forward to an eco-friendly lifestyle down south after downsizing to a new home at Chichester's carbon-neutral Graylingwell Park. After 37 years in their five-bedroom house in Leeds, now their two daughters have flown the nest retired academics Roy and Frankie Todd decided it was time to downsize.

Keen to set up home in the south, an area they knew well from regular visits, they settled on the cathedral city of Chichester. They soon came across Graylingwell Park, the UK's largest carbon-neutral development, set in 85 acres of stunning parkland less than a mile from the historic centre of Chichester.

The award-winning scheme is being developed by Linden Homes, Affinity Sutton and the Homes & Communities Agency. Alongside the new community's impressive eco features and attractive landscapes, the location also offers superb links to London - which is ideal for Roy and Frankie, who will not only live closer to one of their daughters, but will also have easy access to London's airports for when their visit their other daughter in Canada.

The couple's new home, which cost £410,000, incorporates money-saving green technologies and contemporary interiors. It is one of a wide choice of homes to suit a range of different lifestyles, within a community setting that incorporates a farm shop, a communal garden, and an active community hall that hosts a range of classes.

"There are people of all different age groups living here at Graylingwell Park, and there's already such a community feel," says Frankie. "You really notice people putting a lot of effort in to get to know their neighbours. I can't wait to get involved in all the events - especially the Tai-Chi classes!"

"A great benefit of buying a brand new home is the low maintenance," says Roy. "Everything is finished to a very high standard and you can move straight in without having to do any work."

A wide range of homes for different lifestyles

The widest selection of homes is the Nightingales, which includes both newly built and converted homes. These are priced from £234,995 for a refurbished one-bedroom apartment, and from £250,000 for a refurbished two-bedroom apartment. Brand new three-bedroom townhouses start from £365,000, while four-bedroom detached houses are priced from £375,000. The government's Help to Buy scheme is available.

A further selection of homes is available for shared ownership from Affinity Sutton. For a deposit of £2,333 you can buy a 30% share (£46,650) in a newly built one-bedroom apartment (full purchase price of £155,500).

The Help to Buy scheme was launched with a promise to help first-time buyers and movers to access mortgage finance with just a 5% deposit. However, a comparison of the mortgage deals available to borrowers looking for 95% shows that it is small lenders – not those participating in the Help to Buy scheme – that are offering the lowest rates.

Buyers are being urged to shop around for the best mortgage deal and not to simply head directly to a Help to Buy lender.

Help to Buy deals not the cheapest 95% mortgages available

Help to Buy is designed to offer reasonably priced high loan-to-value mortgages. This is because the government has effectively guaranteed some of the risk the banks take when they lend to borrowers with small deposits. The Daily Mail concludes that “as a result, costs for lenders taking part in the scheme should be lower, which means that buyers can benefit from reduced rates”.

However, analysis of the deals currently available shows that there are a number of small lenders who are offering cheaper deals than the firms who have signed up to the Help to Buy initiative. For example, the Hanley Economic Building Society offers a two-year fixed rate of 4.89% to borrowers with a 5% deposit. There is a £350 fee and a free valuation for houses worth up to £250,000, plus £250 cashback, and Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks have a three-year fixed rate at 4.99%. There is no fee and the loan comes with a free valuation, as well as £250 cashback.

By comparison, NatWest and RBS have Help to Buy mortgages that are more expensive. Both offer a two-year fixed rate deal at 4.99 % and five-year fix at 5.49 % with no fee. However, borrowers have to pay for their valuation. Halifax and the Bank of Scotland’s Help to Buy deals are priced even higher and include a two year fixed-rate at 5.19 % with a £995 product fee.

Keith Osborne, editor of Whathouse.co.uk, says: “Considering that the government is sharing the risk with the lenders under the Help to Buy scheme it’s disappointing that the rates aren’t lower. What this shows is that borrowers should shop around for the best 90% or 95% deal and not simply be drawn to a Help to Buy mortgage. I expect larger lenders to cut rates in the New Year when Help to Buy really takes off but in the meantime there may be better options available elsewhere.”

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