A new £5,000 deposit mortgage could help more first-time buyers purchase an existing home worth up to £300,000. But what is the real catch, and why could greater buyer access positively affect sellers, housing chains and the wider UK property investment market?

Buy-to-let has not died, but the old casual approach to property investment is under pressure. As amateur landlords face higher costs, tighter regulation and changing market conditions, professional investors are becoming more selective, more strategic and more focused on structure, income and risk.