A considerable advance in the housing market (8)
I believe the answer is:
mortgage
This clue might be a double definition.
'a considerable advance' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to property as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'housing market' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with ownership as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'in the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mortgage that I've seen before include "Loan raised to buy a house" , "Bank or building society loan for house purchase" , "Temporary conveyance of property as security against a loan" , "Loan agreement for purchase of property" , "Borrowing agreement" .)