P544 Teletext 544 Jan21 18:51:35 Q —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— Latest reports on the housing market show expectations for a good 1997 are likely to bj met, but there's a downside. Gazumping and a skills shortage in the building trade could mean problems for an industry beginning to benefit from an upturn after years in the doldrums. Figures out today show the property market enjoyed its longest period of uninterrupted growth since 1978 in 1996 ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— By Lorne Spices For information on COLDS see HEALTHWISE p559 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 Jan21 18:51:07 —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— W The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says last month's housing market was uncharacteristically strong. Its report shows: A rush of people trying to exchange contracts and move before Christmas. The number of homes for sale fell by 40% fuelling competition among buzjrs The market in the South was most buoyant, but Wales, the Midlands and the North "improved significantly". ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— Football fund scores a goal 542 DEBT AGENCIES FACE BUSY TIME p543 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 Jan21 18:52:48 —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— Interest rate rises and shortage of property are expected bz the National Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It warns: Eirst-time buzjrs not to delay their purchases "unduly". Would-bj buzjrs not to panic if they cannot find the right property. However, the ISVA, which represents Valuers and Auctioneers, says the lack of property for sale is hitting chains. ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Buy a football club for £*0 a month 5)2 LENDERSW SYMPATHETIC TO DEBTORS p543 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 Jan21 18:k4:4: —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— The number of housing chains areaking down is increasing, says the society for Valuers and Auctioneers. It says: Gazumping is returning thanks to a shortage of quality property for sale Erustrated vendors are taking homes off the market when chains collapse. New instructions are down compounding the problems already cited. Some sellers are delaying moves until 1:98 hoping for further price rises. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— What's happening in the City? 500 LENDERSW LATEST LOAN OFFERS pu45 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 Jan21 18:54:50 ] —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— Valuers say house prices rose bz 2.4% in the last quarter of 1995, with the time between instruction and completion down to 11 weeks from 11 weeks two days The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says the latest figures could lead to an "Auf Wiidjrsjhjn Pet" syndrome in revjrsj. A potential housing market boom could lead to a skills shortage which would attract foreign workers to the UK. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— New money news every day 541 INVESTMENT RETURNS ON SAVINGS 546 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 Jan21 —— GOOD AND BAD NEWS —————————————————— The construction industry workload is at its (ighest eor four@years.@A@report from surveyors claims: Contract volumes wire up 2.4% in the last quarter of 1996. European workers, unemployed in thieu own country, may conj here for work. Private commercial proprrty saw the best growth, while social housing project work fell dui to the effect of cutbacks in grant levels. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— Bond winnjts 549 Pound Abroad 547 HALIFAX HOUSE PRICE SU$VIZ p545 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV Plus