Beach huts have become hugely popular to buy, with values soaring, while many are turning to renting them for day trips as an alternative to overseas holidays disappointment.
Millions struggled to keep on top of household bills and debts when the pandemic forced businesses to shut and pay was slashed.
Missed payments can harm your chances of getting a mortgage in the future, but experts say past credit mishaps do not mean all hopes of future borrowing are lost.
Nick Morrey, product technical manager at mortgage broker John Charcol, says: ‘Do not panic if you missed some payments last year, but it is important to face up to your situation and start repairing your credit score quickly.’
Struggle: Millions struggled to keep on top of household bills and debts when the pandemic forced businesses to shut and pay was slashed
Yet all is not lost, says Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients.
‘There are plenty of schemes and lenders with options available to help people achieve their dream of home ownership,’ he adds.
Raising a deposit and meeting strict affordability checks are the biggest hurdles for first-time buyers. But a surge in saving over lockdown, as families spent less, has helped many raise chunkier downpayments.
And with the boom in homeworking, some younger buyers may be able to look beyond costly major cities.
Here, Money Mail outlines the help on offer for first-time buyers searching for a home of their own.
Now I ve re-emerged blinking into the sunlight after the country s third lockdown, it s time for the resumption of one of my favourite forms of newsgathering: looking at adverts on the tube.
House prices are soaring and mortgage terms are getting longer - so it is little wonder that fewer borrowers expect to have paid off their mortgage by the time they retire.