Barclaycard is now offering a record 27 interest-free months to pay off your debts.
We reveal the areas where house prices are likely to rise in 2012.
Speculation about the UK property market is rife at this time of year, as experts try to predict the prospects for prices for the year ahead.
But there is a great disparity in views ranging from those who think the market's resilience in 2011 shows a confidence in bricks and mortar, to those who expect price falls and a deepening of the north-south divide.
While only time will tell what 2012 will bring, there are plenty of places which have the potential to thrive in spite of the current uncertain climate.
We've scoured the country to find the potential hotspots for 2012.
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there has to be a correction between the price of houses and the salaries and wages of those trying to buy. It is now not possible to buy an average family home on an average wage - the repayments and deposits are out of reach for most people. Those who say that prices will continue to rise are missing the main economic point - that as our economy continues to stagnate, skilled people will migrate and economic immigrants return to their countries of origin.
Salaries will continue to fall in real terms and inflation is the weapon of choice of the government. reduced wealth for all will mean that less and less people will be able to buy a home - this will cause a surplus of homes - we already have 350,000 empty homes - so house price inflation is a result not of demand but of a malfunctioning market.
Property is a bad investment vehicle - it adds nothing to the growth of the economy, rather the reverse - buy a home to live in - not to flog on to someone else at an inflated price to subsidise your retirement!
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