Chancellor Darling has announced the new budget recently; earlier, CML, Nationwide and other organizations called for the government to reform the stamp duty tax. Now, one of the measures announced is extension of the £175,000 threshold for stamp duty. Do you think it is good enough to help UK housing market recover? Please, share your opinions!

It's better than nothing, i'd say! Is it just for the first time-buyers or for any purchase?

As far as i can understand there is no stamp duty payable on any property (whether it's your 1st or 10th) purchased before 31 December 09. It'll be interesting to see what happens after. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well since this post it's already changed back again so I guess you can answer your own question!!!

Seems like Mr Darling is at it again! This time its just first-time buyers who will pay no stamp duty on purchases of up to £250K. Is it fair enough? Whad do you think?

Totally not! I can't see why he would want to differentiate at all. I think that people, escpecially solicitors, will try to find holes anyway. I think if you are applying for a mortgage, you will be classed as a first time buyers if you are currently renting. There are certain time restriction, but for example, if someone owned a house jointly with his spouse and got divorced, he will be classed as a first time buyer for a new purchase, well for mortgage anyway.
I can't see 5% being popular either. Ok, there are not that many properties around the coutry worth over £1 mln, but in London it is quite a common price tag. The last thing we need is to frighten foreign investors, who tend to buy in London.