Location: South East

The number of new homes being registered in the capital has hit its highest level since records began over 26 years ago, according to the National House Building Council's latest figures.

The total value of the UK's housing stock rose by £186bn in 2013 to hit £5.2tr, according to some (big) number crunching by Savills, and by £1.6tr over the last decade from £3.6tr in 2003.

We all know it's been a shrewd investment in recent years, but just how easy - or sensible - is it to buy up and develop farmland?

Hamptons International's expansion plans have taken another step forward today, with the acquisition of a top North London estate agency.

The much-touted "ripple effect" looks  to be well and truly underway in the south of England, with Savills recording a 1.5% uplift in average prime regional values in the three months to December.

If a junta flaps its warheads in China... What happens to London's house prices?

Savills has launched a new interactive property price map of the UK by pointing out that house prices rose, on average, by 7% in 2013.

John Lennon's old digs on the St George's Hill Estate in Weybridge, where he wrote much of the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, are up for sale for £13.75m with Knight Frank.

"The London influence on the rest of the UK remains weak," says Jackson-Stops & Staff, which has led to two very distinct markets emerging from the economic woes of the last five years.

The London suburb of Fulham saw more £1m+ sales than any other area of the UK last year, with a whopping 335 deals at an average price of£1,779,323.

Reporting back from the salubrious Surrey & Berkshire suburbs, Julian Amos reflects on last year's game of two halves and why this year's buyers need to take advice from those in the know...

Egerton Crescent in South Kensington has been given the title of "Nation's Most Expensive Address" by Lloyds Bank for the second year running, with an average sale price of £7,369,000.