Yorkshire Bank is offering 1 year’s free buildings and contents insurance worth up to £1,000 to remortgage customers and home-movers.

The popularity of fixed rate mortgages dipped in the final quarter of 2009 as the threat of an increase in base rates eased, research from Paragon Mortgages has revealed.

Valuation activity on residential properties in the second half of 2009 rose significantly, according to the latest data from Connells Survey & Valuation.