Released on = May 21, 2007, 12:45 am

Press Release Author = Charlotte Burrows

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = Asking prices have reached their highest level since April
2005, it has been revealed, providing more fuel for analysts predicting a further
interest rate rise this summer.

Press Release Body = While recent interest rate hikes have placed a heavy financial
burden on millions of Britons and reduced demand for housing, asking prices have
continued to grow largely due to a shortage of supply, property search site Home\'s
latest asking price index shows.

Asking prices jumped by 0.7 per cent in the last month, according to Home, although
much of this growth is being driven by the London market, with rises in other
regions reported to be more modest.

\"The greatest contribution to this month\'s rise came from Greater London where
market sentiment is very positive,\" confirmed Doug Shephard, Home\'s business
development director.

\"Asking prices in London increased by 2.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2007,
although in most other English and Welsh regions house price rises are more subdued,
being at or below the overall figure [for the first three months of the year] of 1.1
per cent.\"

Julian King, director of fast purchase property firm National Homebuyers said at
their Affiliates Conference that lenders now offering as much eight times salary
should be partly to blame. He said: \"The sheer volume of people who are using
National Homebuyers to avoid repossession or the knocking on the door of bailiffs is
unprecedented.

\"National Homebuyers provides a solution for people who want to move quickly and
avoid the delays and uncertainties of selling the open market, but being a service
solving people\'s financial problems, caused in part by their mortgage arrangement is
staggering. This situation is very similar to 1989 and terms such as negative equity
will become much used in conversation again.\"

Homeowners struggling financially following the rate hikes could consider selling
their properties to National Homebuyers and then rent them back. Their sell and rent
back solution, like an equity release plan, allows the homeowner to release capital
in their home - for up to full market value - and then rent the property back.
Further information can be found at
www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk/sellandrentback.html.

Web Site = http://www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk

Contact Details = Sterling House
20 Victoria Way
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 9NF
0870 979 8118
Fax: 01444 257333
info@nationalhomebuyers.co.uk