Keith Osborne

Young people, their faces pressed against an estate agent’s window, gaze at all the lovely homes they’ll never, ever be able to buy. That’s the image the communities minister Sajid Javid conjured up while unveiling the government’s long-awaited housing white paper week. This snapshot of young housebuyers' despair was meant to symbolise a broken housing market where, on average, house prices are nearly eight times average salaries. 'If we don’t act now,' the communities minister said, 'a whole generation could be left behind'. So what did the government propose in its white paper for England, initially intended for publication late last year and then in January 2017?

For many pensioners, the thought of applying for a mortgage seems out of the question. However, lenders have had to move with the times and so being able to obtain a mortgage as a pensioner is no longer looked upon as 'mission impossible'. There are some excellent opportunities out there with major banks and building societies now offering mortgage deals with a high maximum age limit (for when the mortgage must be repaid). Here are some tips for taking out a mortgage once you reach retirement age. Find the right lender for your individual circumstances There is no general maximum age limit for securing a mortgage, it’s up to the individual loan provider to set their own limit.

If you're planning on buying a second property this year, then help is at hand thanks to Spectator Money. Stamp duty costs, mortgage tax relief changes and the possible impact of Brexit are just a few things to consider when buying a second home, a holiday home or a buy-to-let in 2017. Price versus Value 'Location, location, location'. This age-old saying still speaks volumes. When searching for a property, you'll benefit in the long run if you do your homework at the outset. Infrastructural changes have a direct knock-on effect with property prices, as does the weather and local amenities, such as roads, schools and shops. If you can search out areas that have plans to undergo development and renovations, you could find a property that will hold high future value.

The housing crisis is often seen from the perspective of younger homebuyers when the lack of affordable housing is a problem that affects all ages. It's why the government-backed Older People’s Shared Ownership Scheme (OPSO), specifically designed to help people aged 55 and over, can be such a lifeline for an age group often overlooked when it comes to housing needs. Yet, is OPSO everything it appears to be? What is the Older People’s Shared Ownership Scheme? Part of the government's Help to Buy initiative, OPSO is a part-rent/part-buy scheme that allows homebuyers to purchase a percentage of a new home instead of paying the full property price. It's aimed at those unable to buy a home suitable for their needs without having help of some kind.