Released on = May 22, 2007, 1:37 am

Press Release Author = Charlotte Burrows

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = Equity release continues to offer good value for money,
despite recent rises in interest rates, it has been reported.

Press Release Body = According to equity release industry body Safe Home Income
Plans (Ship) - which represents around 90 per cent of the equity release market -
the average rate for equity release remains lower than the average standard variable
rate for mainstream mortgages.

As a result, Ship\'s chief executive Jon King has urged consumers to change their
attitudes towards equity release - especially as it is now fully regulated by the
Financial Services Authority (FSA).

\"This further research by Ship continues to counter critics\' claims that equity
release lending is prohibitively expensive and an option of last resort,\" he said.

\"Since April this year the whole of the equity release market has become fully
regulated by the FSA.

\"With these rising standards and the low interest rates highlighted above, it has
literally never been safer or cheaper to take out equity release and in many cases
it can offer a very viable solution to older people\'s financial needs.\"

Chris Newman, director of fast property buyer National Homebuyers says applications
for their sell and rent back product are on the increase. He says: \"It\'s not just
older people who have the ability of releasing equity in their home. We offer a
solution which allows anyone to sell their home and remain living there as a tenant.

\"For those worrying about the future value of their property, this is a very viable
option. Our sell and rent back solution s not a scheme or a plan and you do not have
to be \'of a certain age\'. We are finding thousands of people needing to source an
alternative income because of issues with their pensions, interest rate hikes or the
instability in the property market.\"

National Homebuyers\' sell and rent back solution is available to anyone with a UK
property in any condition. Further information is available from
www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk/index.asp or by calling 0870 979 8118.

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