Property news: Rising asking prices

Asking prices for homes reach new all-time high
Asking prices in for homes in England reached an all-time high thanks to the strength of the market in London and the South West, according to Rightmove. Read more on this story

Mortgage lending up 20% in February
Mortgage lending for house purchases was up by 20% year-on-year in February, but lenders said the increase may have been fuelled by changes to stamp duty rules in March rather than indicating a resurgence in market activity. Read more on this story

House prices up slightly in past 12 months
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said prices in February had risen by just 0.3% over the past year.

There are big regional variations, with prices rising in London, the South East and Scotland, but falling sharply in Northern Ireland and the North East. Read more on this story