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When it comes to buying a new home women are most likely to have the final say on which property is bought whilst men are left to pick up the cost and paperwork.

FindaProperty.com surveyed over 2000 people to find which gender was most active in the house buying process.

Nearly nine in ten (86%) women say they would make lifestyle sacrifices in order to live in the house of their dreams, a survey from FindaProperty.com has revealed.

The firm surveyed over 2000 women to find out the importance they place on property.

Here lovemoney.com Personal Finance Writer and former Editor of Mortgage Solutions John Fitzsimons share his thoughts on the rise in speculative sellers and how to avoid them.

Housing market changes and renewed confidence in the house prices have led to the return of the speculative seller – but is this a good thing?

The national affordable housing campaign group Priced Out, representing first time buyers, has urged the Government not to back down on including Buy-to-Let investors and second home owners in the planned increase in Capital Gains Tax.

Katy John, Spokesperson said:

"The new Government should stand firm for fairness in the tax system. Discouraging speculation in the property market and spreading the tax burden more evenly between wages and other forms of income would help a generation of priced out first time buyers.

More financial advisers think their clients should consider commercial property as an investment compared with residential property, according to the latest survey of Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs).

The survey, commissioned by Reita, the education and awareness campaign for quoted property and REITs, found that only 39% of IFAs questioned think investors should consider residential property investment, compared with more than half (51%) in January.

Britons appear to be showing more online interest in the property ladder, with Internet searches for properties for sale up by 30% during January to March 2010 – compared to the same time last year.  

The findings have emerged from Experian’s first quarterly Insight Index, identifying key Internet search trends to show how consumers are adapting to today’s economic backdrop. 

A new online business is aiming to tackle neighbours from hell with a unique service - a Neighbourhood Report for house buyers.

Check The Area.com is the brainchild of former builder turned entrepreneur Peter MacAlroy.

He employs retired police officers to investigate your potential new neighbourhood, carry out face-to-face interviews with residents, and produce a comprehensive report covering everything from nuisance neighbours and pets, to vandalism and burglaries, speeding cars and parking issues, planning applications and soundproofing of the properties.

Estate agents Harrison Murray have produced a few simple do's and don'ts to help buyers looking for their next or first home.

Viewing what you hope will be your ideal house should be an exciting and hugely anticipated part of the moving experience.

First-time buyers are the winners in the last Budget before the election on May 6th as Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed that the starting threshold for Stamp Duty will be raised from £125,000 to £250,000.

Nine in 10 first-time buyers will be helped by the move that came into effect from midnight 24/03/2010 and will apply for this year and next.

Business leaders broadly welcomed the reforms to Stamp Duty announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in yesterdays Budget.

David Brown, commercial director of LSL Property Services plc, comments:

“Removal of stamp-duty tax for first-time buyers is positive news for the housing market, but the unsung cornerstone – the private rental sector - has once again been overlooked.