We are headed for a property crash in about seven years, writes Karl Deeter.

The Government should consider removing the rights of people to object to proposed developments as it is hugely costly, causes delays, and is not necessary, the Irish Planning Institute’s annual conference heard.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly is facing fresh calls to publish the legal advice he says prevented him from adopting tough measures on the housing crisis, after experts challenged his claim such action would breach the Constitution.

The Cabinet formally approved the one-year bankruptcy bill in a meeting over the phone yesterday.

With a general election approaching, the Government can take satisfaction that many of the issues that arose after the crash have been addressed. The economy is growing again and the public finances and banking system have been stabilised.

There are very few of us who have not been tenants at some stage. Whether starting college or starting work, or simply because of the hand life has dealt us, most of us have ended up having to deal with landlords at one time or another.

Government intervention on standard variable-rate mortgages is a middle-class plea bargain that contradicts Central Bank policy on curtailing credit, a leading analyst has claimed.

Renua is dominated by former minister Lucinda Creighton, though she says the party is bigger than just one person.

Mortgage insurance will drive up prices, provide minimal protection to borrowers and do little to improve the supply of houses as it is “the wrong medicine for the job”, a group of industry experts said yesterday.

The new benchmarks set by the Central Bank as part of the mortgage arrears resolution targets mean that fewer than 30% of mortgage holders will have to have a sustainable solution in order for the banks to meet the targets.

The Irish Mortgage Brokers Association says failure to address the supply needs within the housing market could create another property bubble.

Conor Power suggests rising house prices could be a good thing and bemoans what he sees as our reverse negativity

Banks offering interest-only mortgages and other incentives to buy-to-let investors would help stabilise rents, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said, adding that the jump in Dublin house prices was not a cause for concern yet.

Tracker mortgage holders will benefit to the tune of €150m from the latest ECB interest rate cut as their repayments fall from next week but those on variable mortgages look set to lose out once again.

Owners of buy-to-let properties are unwilling to sell for anything less than what they paid for them, according to research.

Rents in Dublin grew by 3.5% in the first quarter of the year - according to the latest index from the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

Irish households last month funnelled over €500m more back into the banks than lending institutions gave to stimulate economic activity, according to the Central Bank.

The price of houses and apartments increased during the year to the end of July by 2.3%, new CSO figures show.

The banks are massaging their mortgage lending figures in an effort to meet their targets, according to members of the country’s leading brokers’ organisations.

A bid to abolish the property tax and replace it with a site valuation charge once back in power has been rejected by Fianna Fáil.

Property prices could fall another 20% but may yet stabilise, ratings agency Fitch said in its outlook for 2013.

Homeowners are being urged to respond to the Revenue Commissioners immediately with a counter-valuation for the Property Tax.

The Government is moving to close a loophole which stopped banks from repossessing homes.

The Independent Mortgage Advisers Federation has denied claims by financial adviser Karl Deeter that up to a quarter of mortgage holders in arrears are voluntarily allowing their mortgages to slip towards default.

AIB has relaxed its lending conditions for people seeking a mortgage, in a move that will see more people qualifying.

Confusion over the possibility of the introduction of full or partial debt-forgiveness is increasing.

IT could be 2014 before the European Central Bank (ECB) raises rates again, according to an Irish Examiner survey.

It has been reported that NAMA is entering debt forgiveness talks with a number of property developers.

BANKS have been accused of “cherry-picking” who they want to give mortgages to as brokers claim people can’t secure loans despite the number of applications increasing.

THE Government must get its priorities right and deliver on an important tax law change that is penalising some pension payers.

A HOMEOWNER could save thousands over the lifetime of their mortgage by increasing their repayments by €100 per month.

Almost three quarters of Irish people think a debt forgiveness scheme should be put in place for people struggling to pay their mortgage.

PERCHED on a chair overlooking a wood panel-lined room in Dublin’s High Court, a bespectacled Judge Elizabeth Dunne has become all-too-used to hearing from the victims of Ireland’s economic meltdown.

TRACKER mortgage holders could be hit with up to five interest rate hikes by the end of next year — adding €150 a month to a €200,000 mortgage.

HOMEOWNERS could be hit by mortgage increases as soon as this month as experts predict a 1% hike and an end to fixed-rate loans.

HOMEOWNERS are likely to be hit by increases in mortgage interest rates in the first few months of the new year as lenders aim to claw back some of their massive losses.

Holders of variable rate mortgages should brace themselves for an increase in the rate next year, according to the company Irish Mortgage Brokers.

BANKS and building societies in Ireland are agreeing to cut loan and mortgage repayments by up to 90% for customers in genuine financial difficulty.

HOMEOWNERS have seen the cost of their mortgages rise sharply in the last year with an average 250k mortgage repayment rising by up to €130 a month.

The Government has denied claims that it didn't listen or respond to its own banking watchdog.

HOMEOWNERS could see thousands slashed off their mortgages if a bid for EBS from a US billionaire is successful.

A warning has been issued that predicted increases in mortgage interest rates will push many homebuyers into debt.

Four more lenders are said to be planning to follow the example of EBS in raising mortgage interest rates.