The UK housing market is set to bloom in 2006

After house prices dropping for 16 months in a row, BBC News has reported that house prices are set to rise again in 2006, although gains will be small.

Nationwide is said to be "cautiously optimistic" for 2006, after such a bad 2005, issuing the statement "our expectation is that house price growth will remain firmly in low single digits in 2006 as the economy recovers."

With house prices set to rise, how can you insure that you know how much you should pay, and how much is just over the top?

The Guardian printed a report this month revealing how many people were losing out by paying too much money for newly built property that they had purchased as an investment.

It reported that valuations on new-build flats in Manchester were so inflated as to have "Monaco price tags".

With house prices always rising, how much longer can a normal Joe like you and me know what "Monaco price tags" are, and ensure we don’t get ripped off?

There are ways out there – the internet is a powerful tool, and the best place to look for things that you just don’t understand, or you just haven’t been keeping on top of market prices.

The site that I found to keep me on top things in the housing market is called Moneynet. Moneynet is an information provider for all sorts of financial stuff, but as a guy looking for a new home I found the Moneynet mortgage research pages most helpful.

So with my new knowledge in the bank I plan not only to net myself a lovely property at a nice price, but I’m also thinking of making an investment to try to take advantage of this predicted growth in 2006.

So bring on the New Year and watch this space to hear of news of my ventures…