Insurance

Nationwide: House prices dip is healthy
The property market has stalled, according to Nationwide, with house prices falling 0.9% in August in what it calls a 'healthy correction' "Property

Home loan squeeze hurts self-employed
Self-employed workers could find themselves shut out of the property market as banks use lowest annual incomes to decide on affordability "House

House prices: What next?
We analyse house price news and predictions and investigate what is next for the UK property market "House

What next for mortgage rates?
Are mortgage rates about to rise or fall and should you take a fixed or tracker deal? Predictions, tips and the best mortgage rates "Mortgage"

How much extra we pay to live by the sea
A house near a beach attracts a bigger premium than any other feature that buyers could hope for, research reveals today "Chesil

Negative equity curse 'will last until 2014'
Tens of thousands of people who bought a home at the peak of the market will remain trapped in negative equity until 2014, a devastating report warns today

House prices double-dip 'on the cards'
A fresh warning has been sounded over a house prices double-dip, as Bank of England figures show the house price rally has run out of steam "For

'Pay residents to vote yes to new homes'
Housebuilders should be allowed to pay cash 'bribes' to residents who agree to new homes being built in their area, a think-tank says "New

How to earn from your property in a bleak market
Despite the prospect of a double-dip recession, homeowners are still finding ways to generate income from their homes "Stuart

Get set to fix mortgage if base rate soars
Some homeowners will be panicked into changing their mortgage after an economist's prediction that the base rate could rocket from 0.5% to 8% "Robert

£122k whip-round to beat off developers
Neighbours have clubbed together to buy a 13 acre field in the Peak District, to prevent the beauty spot from being snapped up by property developers "Cow

How bogus solicitors robbed us of £735k
One family has become the victim of brazen conmen, who sold them a house for £735,000 while it was in the process of being repossessed "Nick

1.1m stuck in homes they can't sell
Research has revealed that more than a million homeowners are trapped in a property that they cannot sell "Young

Is Suffolk the ultimate seaside retreat?
With its meadows and rustic coastline, Suffolk is rural bliss, as one of the least developed counties in England. But what can you get for your money? "Lighthouse"

Flat-sharing can save you £5,225 annually
The current economic climate has left thousands of people more willing to share their personal space than ever before, saving them a bundle in the process "Inside

Banks profiteering on fixed-rate mortgages
Millions of homeowners are paying hundreds of extra pounds on their mortgages as bank mark-ups on home loans reach record highs "Calculator

Villages will 'become theme parks' after cuts
Rural communities are at risk of turning into retirement villages and theme parks after the Government's spending cuts kick in, activists have claimed "Stroud"

250,000 of us now own a second home
Nearly 250,000 Britons own two properties and experts predict the second home boom will continue this year despite wobbles in the housing market "family

Can we repay mortgage in ten years?
We need a £60,000 mortgage to be repaid over ten years. Would you recommend a repayment or an interest-only loan, backed by saving in Isas? "House

Should I borrow from flexible mortgage?
I owe just £2,000 on my mortgage. It is a flexible loan, allowing me to borrow back at any time at a competitive rate of interest. Should I do this? "House

Is Nationwide's rate hike fair?
Nationwide is changing the terms of the mortgage we took out with the Portman before the societies merged. Can they do this?

Can I blacklist tenant who won't pay?
My tenant has stopped paying rent. How do I inform the credit reference agencies so that other landlords won't suffer the same fate?

When you buy a freehold property funded by a mortgage, you are obliged to take out buildings insurance. This cover will pay for the cost of rebuilding should, for example your property be burnt to the ground or shoring up if it suffers subsidence. It is highly recommended to opt for home contents insurance to cover you in the event of theft, damage or loss and to take out a life insurance policy, which will pay off your mortgage in the event of your death. You may also consider insuring your mortgage payments against being unable to work due to an accident, sickness, unemployment (ASU), or chronic illness.

Tips

Never buy your policy based purely on cost
Confirm that the insurance company supplying your policy is financially secure
Check that permanent disability cover is included in your policy
Make sure the insurance company is a member of an ombudsman scheme
Always be honest when discussing your health (e.g. back pain, headaches, blood pressure) and lifestyle choices (e.g. whether or not you smoke, your alcohol intake, exercise regime)
Make sure your insurance company are aware of any issues, this way you are safe in the knowledge that your policy will pay out when you need it to

Things to consider when buying insurance

Shop around
Always shop around. High Street mortgage lenders often have a relationship with just one provider and can be that bit more expensive. Contact a range of companies or speak to an independent specialist who will search the market for you. Be aware of how competitive the price is.

Get the right type of policy
There are dozens of policies out there so make sure you choose the one that is right for you.

Make sure you have enough cover
Do you have too little or too much cover?

Value for money
Your premium may seem inexpensive today but will it stay that way?

Length of term
Are you covered for the correct amount of time? What will you do if and when your cover runs out?

Terms and conditions
Always read the small print carefully

Insurance

Tips

Things to consider when buying insurance

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