The number of repossessions in the first quarter of 2011 has increased by 15% when compared to the last quarter of 2010 new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders has shown. However, this figure is 10% lower than the same time a year ago. So what does this mean for UK mortgage payers who are struggling to make ends meet? Michael Coogan, director-general at the CML, says: "In essence, good arrears management practice is a balance between giving households every chance to rehabilitate and get back on track, and limiting the damage in the minority of cases where this is not going to be achievable." He says that looking ahead, many households are likely to find their budgets stretched for some time, and some will inevitably find themselves in difficulty. The best advice would be to always speak to your lender first and then take a look at your other options.

A recent survey from buy-to-let lender Paragon tells us that nearly half of landlords reported that tenant demand grew during the first quarter of 2011. The report shows that 49% of landlords recorded growing levels of tenant demand during the period, compared with just 5% who said it was falling - up from 40% during the last quarter of 2010. The proportion of landlords reporting increasing levels of tenant demand has now risen for seven consecutive quarters. And landlords are very optimistic with over half (52%) expecting demand to increase over the next 12 months, and only 6% forecasting a decline. Nigel Terrington, Group Chief Executive of Paragon tells us, 'Landlords are experiencing high levels of tenant demand, and this is expected to rise due to a number of factors, including social housing reforms, lifestyle choices, low numbers of first-time buyers and wider demographic changes', all of which is very good news for Landlords. All of which is good news for landlords. Tell us your views - are you a landlord or maybe someone who is thinking in investing in property?

Is it the year of the cash buyer? If the latest reports are anything to go by then the answer would be a resounding “YES”. Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that in January 2011 nearly 40% of buyers did not need a mortgage and there was a reported 27,600 cash transactions. If you compare this to April 2005 where 16,457 homes were sold to cash buyers, equivalent to 15% of the market then the amount of cash buyers has actually more than doubled since 2005. What are your views on the latest reports? Are you a cash buyer yourself?