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Car insurance as with many other risk-based financial products, can vary quite dramatically in price depending on where you hail from, suggests evidence drawn from a recent study.

One of the UK’s premier breakdown service providers recently made the announcement after profiling a detailed cross section of their customers. They discovered that insurance premiums could differ massively between the owner of a car who resides in a busy, city centre location and parks his car roadside and a typical suburban resident, who chooses to keep his vehicle safely tucked away inside a garage.

The firm stated that an individuals postcode can be one of the most important factors that insurance co’s will consider when deciding which premium is best suited to the person. The firm also suggested that other personal factors such as health, sex and age could create noticeable differences between premiums.

On the matter of sex specifically, there are a number of insurance co’s that bias their products towards the female market, and are guided by the notion that women do make safer drivers and are therefore ideal customers.

Current market conditions are forcing FTB’s to take greater risks with regards to their borrowing, according to a new report.

Over the last 18 months the national rate of interest has rose a staggering 5 times with analysts predicting a further rise in coming months. As a result, first time buyers are discovering they have no other option than to borrow in untraditional multiples of their annual salary, with some FTB’s going as high as five times their income.

However, in a surprise twist the study has found that many FTB’s are emotionally comfortable with said borrowing levels, with few considering the potential repercussions. Even more surprising is the fact that almost 1/3rd of those surveyed would happily waiver payment protection insurance in favour of a larger advance on their potential home loan.

It would appear that today’s First time buyers are so consumed with a desire to get onto the property ladder, that they are ignoring any prospective effects on their future financial health. The biggest problem for many FTB’s and indeed homebuyers in general, is that the housing markets past strength has blindsided many peoples judgement.

Almost 80% of Brits consider the housing market to be the safest and most profitable way to invest their hard earned cash, with a similar percentage of people refusing to believe that it has the potential to decline. Experts fear that this attitude could be the undoing of many, suggesting that it is only a matter of time before the bubble eventually bursts.

People who are struggling financially should be privy to a more understanding ear by their creditors suggests the CAB.

It has been reported that the vast majority of UK lending institutions do not pay close enough attention to their clients “cries for help” with some even going as far as to completely ignore any attempts to make contact.

The CAB has suggested that lenders owe their customers a degree of sympathy due to the fact that in 70% of cases, consumer financial difficulties are said to stem from irresponsible lending and/or haphazard screening when it comes to prospective loan applicants.

In addition, certain consumer groups are said to be putting pressure on lending institutions, in an attempt to convince creditors to cut people in uncontrollable financial situations, a little more slack. As it currently stands, consumers who default on credit agreements are all tarred with the same brush. The current system does not separate those people who want to pay but cannot due to circumstance, from those who simply refuse to pay.

The CAB has reported that its suggestions have been welcomed by some of the larger credit lenders and it is hopeful that a solution will be devised in order to accurately identify and protect such borrowers.

Looking after the environment and ensuring that personal contributions towards our planets ever increasing CO2 levels remain at an absolute minimum, are the responsibility of every homeowner suggests the UK’s leading housing authority.

According to a recent report, British homeowners have the power to substantially reduce their CO2 output through assessment of their homes current insulation systems, and upgrading where necessary. Experts suggest that if all homeowners in the UK were to cohere to such ideals, our national CO2 output would by reduced by a mighty 20%.

However, as you could probably imagine many homeowners do not have the financial resource to make the required modifications to their homes and refuse to procure a loan in order to do so.

Some property experts have stated that in a large number of cases home improvements such as these can instantly raise their properties value, as well as helping the environment. It is also worth noting that around 80% of the time only minimal upgrades need to be made (such as new insulation) and are usually not as costly as one might think.

There are many different ways to increase the value of your home. Some popular methods include landscaping, installing new permanent fixtures such as bathrooms or kitchens and converting disused space into something more practical. However, one of the best ways to maximise the value of your home is to quite literally increase the amount of available living space within it.

According to recent research, some British homeowners have raised the value of their homes substantially by adding new space to their properties. There are apparently numerous different ways in which Brits choose to undertake this task, however experts have noted that the more savvy DIY’ers are maximising potential returns by investing in lower cost (although still high quality) additions such as conservatories and outhouses.

It is suggested that a well constructed, good quality property addition such as a conservatory can potentially add an additional 12% to the overall value of a typical 3-bed semi, and a sizeable 19% to a 4 bed detached. Homeowners who have made the aforementioned additions to their homes either pre or during the property market boom have gained a staggering £45’000 (average) increase in their properties value as a result.

As far as raising the necessary capital in order to fund such projects is concerned, the vast majority of Brits are reportedly turning to low cost home loans or even equity release schemes as a means to foot the bill. Numerous lenders have also reported a noticeable rise in demand for such loans over the past 5 years.

In addition, the average conservatory or out house project is said to cost around £10,000 from start to finish.