News & Insight

Mortgages: When Will Interest Rates Go Down?

6th September 2023
Bank of England, when will interest rates go down

At the time of writing, the Bank of England base rate is set at 5.25%, following 14 consecutive hikes imposed by the central bank since December 2021. The fallout for homeowners, sellers and buyers is […]

Understanding What the Mortgage Charter Means for Homeowners

2nd August 2023
Mortgage Charter support a man and woman worried mortgage costs

The Mortgage Charter is a recently announced agreement reached between the UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the British government, and a collective of many of the largest mortgage lenders – but what […]

First-Time Buyers: Caution Advised in Budgeting for Property Purchase Costs

18th July 2023

A study published this month by The Mortgage Lender has found that almost a quarter – 24% – of first-time buyers in the UK have mistakenly assumed they are exempt from Stamp Duty on property […]

Exploring the Impacts of the Spring Budget Announcements on the UK Property Sector

17th March 2023
UK budget

Following the chaos of last autumn’s mini-budget, the announcements made this week by the Chancellor were awaited with trepidation – we explain all of the news, what it means, and how the government plans to […]

Cladding Crisis: Big Six Lenders Now Offer Mortgages on Some Affected Flats

18th January 2023
cladding crisis mortgage lenders ews1

Property owners unable to sell or remortgage a property due to issues with cladding standards may be relieved to hear of recent changes to guidance and lender positions that make mortgage financing on apartments in […]

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme Extended: Buyer Support Will Continue for 12 Months

22nd December 2022
mortgage guarantee scheme

In welcome news for buyers struggling to get onto the housing market or move home in a period of unprecedented interest rates, the government has announced that the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme will now remain available […]

Bank of England Base Rate Rises to 3%, How Will Spiking Interest Rates Affect the Costs of Homeownership?

3rd November 2022
Bank of England in London home of the MPC who set UK interest rates

Following the news that the Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates to 3% – an increase of 0.75 percentage points – homeowners and buyers are concerned about how this may affect their mortgage […]

The End of Help to Buy (& What Comes Next!)

7th July 2022
end of Help to Buy new build house

While the Help to Buy mortgage support scheme has been tapering for a few years (Help to Buy ISAs closed in 2019), the remaining equity loan system will end in March 2023. Applicants can still […]

UK House Price Growth Surges to the Highest Level Since 2004

29th April 2022
house prices

We are all conscious that most things are getting more expensive, and housing prices are no exception! The latest report from the Nationwide House Price Index indicates that property values across the UK have increased […]

Could Remortgaging Help You Navigate the Cost of Living Crisis?

10th February 2022
remortgaging

The cost of living crisis is everywhere you look in the news right now, it is not hard to see why. Combinations of inflation, soaring energy prices, and increasing National Insurance rates are putting a […]

Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021

29th October 2021
UK budget

The Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 has been presented, and it is aimed at preparing the UK for an ‘age of optimism’. There are a number of key concerns that have arisen as the […]

Tenant demand reaches a 5-year high in 2021

6th September 2021
tenant demand

As many as 40% of landlords have observed an increase in tenant demand over the last 3 months. This is according to new research by Paragon Bank, which reports that the rise has been significant […]

Life is Full of Surprises, But You Can Cover Your Bases

1st June 2021
life is full of surprises

Often, sound financial planning is viewed as a way to open up your world. You can buy your first home; buy your investment property; see your retirement funds rise with clever investment; put your kids […]

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme

17th May 2021
mortgage guarantee scheme

The recent budget saw the implementation of the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. When the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread in Spring 2020, property valuations went the other way, slowing rapidly. This led to low-deposit mortgages being […]

Budget 2021 – What You Need to Know

5th March 2021
UK budget

With coronavirus restrictions finally starting to ease and the UK navigating the government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown, the 2021 budget is crucial for both businesses and individuals. With today’s budget, Rishi Sunak has pledged to […]

How Covid-19 Could Affect Your Credit Score for 6 years

20th February 2021
covid-19

The financial hardship that has impacted consumers during the Coronavirus pandemic could cause damage to your credit score, which might last 6 years. The government’s Covid-19 financial support schemes will start drawing to a close […]

What Happens to My Mortgage if I Lose My Job?

9th January 2021
worried about mortgage

Sometimes, life throws things at us that can cause a shock to our finances. A third of adults in the UK have taken a blow to their financial situation due to things like bereavement, illness […]

What to do if an ex-partner refuses to pay their share of the mortgage

21st October 2020
ex-partner not paying mortgage

Separation and divorce are extremely stressful and emotionally draining. A joint mortgage can make that significantly worse. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a partner to refuse to maintain mortgage payments when they have moved out […]

House Prices Soar at Fastest Rate in Four Years

10th October 2020
house prices

House prices in September 2020 rose by an annual 5%, according to figures from Nationwide’s House Price Index. That’s the highest rate seen since 2016. The average price for UK homes now stands at £226,129. […]

Renovation over Relocation – How to Make the Most of Low Mortgage Rates

26th September 2020
low mortgage rates

As planning laws ease, more homeowners are likely to consider making improvements to their homes rather than buying a new place. In the near future, homeowners will be able to add new extensions or extra […]

The Summer 2020 Mini-Budget

10th July 2020
UK budget

As the nation slowly emerges from the coronavirus lockdown, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has now announced a new ‘mini-budget’ to help kickstart the UK’s economic recovery. There are some key announcements that will impact potential homebuyers, […]

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