London's new garden squares
London is already the greenest capital in Europe, with homeowners enjoying more than 600 garden squares. And the good news is that there are more to come.
As the BBC move out, Shepherd's Bush switches to a new programme
As Aunty leaves the Bush the borough seizes the opportunity to create a proper neighbourhood.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Revealed: from Reading to Redhill – the top 20 commuter stations
Choose your route. Our exclusive property buyers’ guide shows travel times, costs and house prices.
My design London - Russell Norman
Owner of Polpo, Spuntino and Polpetto restaurants in Soho, and da Polpo and Mishkin's in Covent Garden, restauranteur Russell Norman opens up on his favourite London haunts.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Camden Town
This two-bedroom flat has a pretty park on its doorstep, while buzzing Camden Town is only 10 minutes’ walk away. Big sash windows and high ceilings give a spacious feel and there’s a private garden with a studio/home office (£525,000).
Swap of the week: Willersey, Glouc
This little Cotswolds beauty is just across the road from the village green and duck pond. For £530,000 you get beams, exposed stone walls and an open fireplace, plus four bedrooms, a useful attic room and lush gardens to enjoy.
Life-changer: Trescowe, Cornwall
For a project brimming with potential, what about this coastal home, yours for £545,000? The family space includes six bedrooms, while its collection of outbuildings overlooking an acre of gardens could become income-generating holiday lets.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Property search
Foreign banks seek British borrowers
By Alex Sheridan
Foreign banks, which have already shaken up the UK savings market, are offering mortgage rates as low as 2.5 per cent to British homeowners. Bank of China, Israel’s Bank Leumi and Handelsbanken of Sweden are among the lenders targeting borrowers in the UK.Are the mortgages any good?
Bank of China has a lifetime tracker mortgage at 2.5 per cent over the 0.5 per cent base rate, while Bank Leumi has been offering a five-year tracker charging 1.625 per cent over the Libor interbank lending rate - equivalent to a starting rate of about 2.5 per cent.
Bank of China, which wants to become a household UK lender, is also offering buy-to-let tracker mortgages at 3.5 per cent over base rate, which brokers say require lower rental cover than rivals.
Handelsbanken is reportedly offering £1 million-plus mortgages at a time when many lenders are capping their best rates at £250,000.
As with many UK lenders, borrowers are likely to need substantial deposits or equity. The foreign lenders also charge up front fees - from £995 in the case of Bank of China.
Are there any risks?
There’s no need to worry about exchange rates as these mortgages are in sterling. And while savers have had concerns about Icelandic and other foreign banks in the credit crisis, remember that with a mortgage the bank has lent you money, so it’s the one taking the risk.
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