Optimism is beginning to flower among property investors, a new study has found, with more Britons predicting a boost in fortunes in the market than those predicting a drop.

Continuing low interest rates have led to little movement in house prices in the UK property market for eight months, even though there was a 0.6% increase in the previous month, Halifax has said.

Landlords looking for a buy-to-let mortgage now have 100 more deals to choose from than in February last year, according to research.

More requests are being made to "the bank of granny and grandpa" as people struggle to raise mortgage deposits and "the bank of mum and dad" faces tough financial times, according to a survey.

Analysts have warned that the fall in UK property prices may slow over the coming months, despite a recent steady tumble.

Government plans to underwrite UK mortgages for first-time buyers seeking to buy a new-build home are to be extended to home owners who want to move up the property ladder.

The UK property market currently favours buyers, according to nearly two thirds of those moving home.

Almost half of UK expats miss the countryside of their home country, according to new research.

The growing profitability of buy to let lending has led six mortgage lenders to now offer 20 buy to let mortgage types with LTVs up to 80%, according to Mortgage Flow data.

A new five-year fixed mortgage deal with a 3.19% rate has been launched by Yorkshire Building Society through its Chelsea brand.