Released on = July 17, 2007, 4:58 am

Press Release Author = Charlotte Burrows

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = The new chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling has
expressed concerns over the number of fixed-rate mortgage deals due to come to an
end in the coming months.


Press Release Body = In comments published in the Financial Times this morning, Mr
Darling said that lenders would be pushed to offer fixed-rate deals over longer
periods of time in order to tackle the financial hardships currently being
experienced by many homeowners.

\"What is obviously a concern to me is that when people come off a rate that was
maybe fixed two years ago, and I suspect there are a lot of people on two year
mortgages, they will now come out of that, and they will then find that the rate has
gone up,\" he told the financial daily.

\"Our economy is far more influenced by the mortgage market than most other economies
for historical reasons, and therefore getting this right, both in terms of housing
supply and in terms of the financing of house purchase, the information available to
people, is all very, very important.\"

Interest rate are widely expected to rise tomorrow, when the Bank of England\'s
monetary policy committee meet.

Julian King, director of property purchasers National Homebuyers believes that not
only will the rate hike result in further misery for homeowners but will also impact
negatively on housing market stability.

\"Homebuyers should be cautious about borrowing record volumes at a time when
borrowing costs for both fixed and variable rate mortgages are likely to rise
further,\" he said.

\"The current lack of disposable income will continue making affordability levels
reduce even further. Homeowners predicting a hit when they exit their current
agreement should have plans in place.\"

National Homebuyers is the UK\'s leading fast purchase property firm, guaranteeing a
quick sale of any property, in any condition in the UK.

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