What's going on?

On Tuesday, Persimmon (not the fruit � the UK�s second largest homebuilder) said its profit soared by 13% in the last six months thanks to a state-funded initiative that lends to cash-poor Brits.

What does this mean?

Since the Brexit vote, most UK economic indicators have been positive (albeit not stellar) � wages, unemployment, economic growth � but property prices, particularly in London, have wavered. It�s led estate agency Foxtons to report its first loss in a decade � and some analysts believe UK housing is a �bubble on a bubble�.

Persimmon�s results rose above the gloom thanks partly to Help to Buy � a program where prospective buyers only need to stump up a 5% deposit for a home, which the government tops up with a 20-40% interest-free loan. This policy helped Persimmon sell 4% more homes than at the same time last year.

Why should I care?

For you, personally: Chickens will come home to roost.

While Help to Buy might seem like free money, it isn�t. After five years, payments on the government�s loan kick in and borrowers have to pay 1.75% of the loan�s value in interest. The interest rate increases by at least inflation (the rate at which prices of goods increase) each year, which means that homeowners� monthly payments will balloon in the years to come � a potentially terrifying prospect with a Brexit-shaped hole on the horizon�

For markets: The UK housing market�s anyone�s guess.

This month, the Bank of England hiked interest rates for only the second time this decade � to 0.75% � and the central bank indicated there�d be further, albeit gradual, rises. Persimmon�s profit suggests the UK housing market is resilient. However, investors may worry whether Help to Buy-ers will be able to swallow interest rate rises � or whether it could lead to new sellers emerging, putting pressure on house prices. Recent sellers have had to stomach an average dip of �7,000 in their asking prices in August.