News & Insight

On 8th July Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a major tax cut for home buyers, with a temporary waiver of Stamp Duty Land Tax for all properties valued up to £500,000. ...

When you take out a mortgage, your lender will require a valuation. Our infographic helps to explain the different types of valuations and surveys and the impact of the pandemic on timescales. ...

Locking into a long-term fixed rate can provide valuable peace of mind that you’ll know exactly what your mortgage payments will be for several years, regardless of what happens to interest rates during this time. ...

Nationwide, Britain’s biggest building society, has reduced the maximum amount it will lend so that it can “continue to lend responsibly”. ...

The Bank of England has held the base rate at 0.1% in June, despite speculation that rates could fall into negative territory to help shore up the economy. ...

After re-introducing many of their deals for homebuyers with small deposits after lockdown rules eased, several lenders this week pulled their first-time buyer mortgages again temporarily. ...

Several lenders have recently reduced their mortgage rates, benefiting homeowners looking to remortgage so they can reduce their monthly outgoings. ...

Homeowners who have taken mortgage payment holidays to help them weather the financial impact of coronavirus may be able to extend their breaks by three months, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed. ...

The Bank of England is reviewing whether to cut interest rates to less than zero to help stimulate an economic recovery, but has said it won’t act until it has fully assessed the impact of doing so....

Now that the property market has restarted again, lenders are busy working through the backlog of mortgage applications they put on hold when physical valuations had to cease during lockdown. ...

Thousands of homebuyers who had to put their moves on hold when the country went into lockdown at the end of March can now proceed with their plans ...

There are lots of reasons you might not have switched your mortgage yet, but are they actually myths? We look at the top reasons why you may not have remortgaged yet and why it might be a good idea......

Recent weeks have proved a rollercoaster ride for the mortgage market, with several lenders withdrawing products and then expanding their ranges. But what next for the mortgage market? ...

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to hold the rate at its current record low, to help support economic activity during the coronavirus pandemic. ...

Annual house price growth rose by 3.7% in April, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index, the highest rate of annual growth for more than two years. ...

Some mortgage lenders have announced changes to their affordability criteria to give more clarity for those who have been furloughed due to coronavirus, or those who receive a variable income which includes bonuses....

Lenders have gradually started to expand their mortgage ranges, after temporarily withdrawing some of their products when the lockdown was introduced. ...

Lenders have now given over 1.6 million payment holidays to support customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. ...

More than 1.2m homeowners have been offered mortgage payment holidays by their lenders to help them weather the financial impact of coronavirus. ...

Keeping mortgage costs to a minimum is likely to be a priority for most people during this difficult time and moving to a new deal with the same lender may be one way to reduce monthly payments. ...

Taking a break from mortgage payments won’t affect your credit rating, credit reference agencies have confirmed, providing peace of mind for those struggling financially due to the coronavirus outbreak. ...

Here’s what you need to know about how the pandemic is affecting the mortgage market, and the impact it might have on your chances of getting a mortgage or remortgaging. ...

The Bank of England reduced base rate by 0.50% to 0.25% on March 11th and then cut further to 0.10% on the 19th. Here's our rundown of how lenders are reacting to these cuts....

Home-movers are being advised by the Government to put their plans on hold wherever possible whilst measures are in place to fight coronavirus. ...

The Bank of England cut the base rate again on Thursday to just 0.1%, its lowest ever level, in a bid to support the economy during the coronavirus crisis. ...

The Government has announced that homeowners struggling with mortgage costs may be able to claim a three month “holiday” from their payments. Here’s what you need to know about how mortgage payment holidays work and who’s eligible. ...

Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, will soon re-enter the interest-only mortgage market - but only high earners will be eligible. ...

Although much of this week’s Budget speech focused on measures to protect people and businesses from the economic impact of the coronavirus, there were several announcements on property. ...

The Bank of England slashed the base rate by half a percentage point to just 0.25% on Wednesday to help shore up the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. ...

A New Homes Ombudsman, Help to Buy numbers, leasehold reforms and house prices ...

House prices in all English cities have finally surpassed price levels recorded at the last peak in 2007, with prices across the UK approaching a three-year high. ...

Paying off your mortgage early is a pretty appealing prospect for most people, so it’s little wonder that many of us plough any cash we don’t have an immediate need for back into our homes. ...

The Financial Times reported this weekend on the increasing number of borrowers looking to split their mortgages to suit their financial circumstances. ...

Buyers will now be responsible for finding out whether the property they are purchasing has been invaded by Japanese knotweed if the current owner isn’t sure. ...

We explain everything you need to know about mortgages and the impact having children can have on your ability to borrow. ...

First time buyers will be able to benefit from discounted new homes under a new ‘First Homes’ scheme proposed by the Government. ...

With Valentine’s Day around the corner you might be starting to feel a bit romantic. Perhaps you’re thinking about moving in with your partner, or even popping the question? There’s a practical consideration you’ll want to think about before you make the big commitment of living together: How will the mortgage work?...

More than 83,500 property and land sales were registered with HM Land Registry in December, with some staggering differences between the cheapest and most expensive properties sold. ...

The Bank of England voted by 7-2 to hold interest rates at 0.75% again this month, the same as in the previous meeting. ...

Mortgage prisoners stuck paying expensive rates may find it easier to remortgage to cheaper deals after Nationwide announced changes to its affordability rules. ...

Homebuyers with only a 5% deposit to put down now have a wider choice of mortgage options to choose from following the launch of a new range of fixed rate mortgages. ...

There are lots of reasons why now is a great time for first time buyers looking for a mortgage, including Stamp Duty exemption, low interest rates and Government schemes....

Over 40,000 interest-only mortgages are set to end in 2020. Could remortgaging be the answer?...

Growing numbers of property investors are looking to buy holiday homes to let out in the UK in response to increasing demand for UK holidays. ...

Following a somewhat sluggish year for the property market in 2019, there are signs that 2020 is off to a more positive start. ...

On January the 6th, the first working day after Christmas, #DivorceDay was trending on Twitter. January is unofficially known as ‘divorce month’ as it’s widely believed to be the busiest month for enquires about divorce received by solicitors....

Spring is usually considered the best time to sell a property, but in fact there’s no time like the present, according to new research. ...

One in three of us would take out pet insurance for our furry friends, yet more than eight out of ten don’t have or wouldn’t buy financial protection for ourselves in case we’re unable to work. ...

Around 140,000 mortgage deals are due to mature this April, so if you’re one of them it’s worth looking into remortgaging as soon as possible. ...

After all that festive spending, the New Year is the ideal time to review your finances and look at ways you might be able to save money in 2020. ...

As we enter both a new year and a new decade, the weekend’s financial press took a look at changing times within the mortgage market. ...

Political and economic uncertainty may have dominated 2019, but homeowners and buyers have continued to benefit from rock-bottom mortgage rates. ...

Is sorting out your finances one of your New Year’s resolutions? Whether you’re thinking about taking out a mortgage or if you already have one, it will probably be your biggest monthly outgoing, so should be a priority on your resolution list. Here are a few ideas to help you get going...

First-time buyers in Scotland will receive financial help to buy a property under a recently launched pilot scheme. ...

Want to get in touch with us over Christmas? No problem, here’s when we’ll be available for you to give us a call: Christmas Eve – 9am – 2pm Christmas Day – Closed Boxing Day – Closed New Year’s Eve – 9am – 2pm New Year’s Day – Closed Otherwise it’s business as usual!...

Ongoing political and economic uncertainty has failed to deter first-time buyers, with growing numbers managing to get on to the property ladder. ...

House price growth remained subdued in October, with many homebuyers and movers putting plans on hold amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep interest rates at 0.75% again in November, although two of the nine members voted in favour of a cut. ...

With the general election confirmed for the 12th December, the weekend’s financial press highlighted the potential policy pledges and the impact they might have on our economy. ...

Thousands of homeowners who’ve previously been barred from moving to cheaper mortgage deals could now be able to switch, thanks to new rules. ...

Thousands of lower earners will be given the opportunity to get onto the property ladder under plans for a new model of shared ownership announced by the Government. ...

The number of landlords buying properties to rent out is on the up, according to latest data from trade body UK Finance. ...

Follow our handy flow chart to find out if you should remortgage...

House prices are rising at the slowest annual pace for six years according to Halifax, with ongoing political and economic uncertainty continuing to weigh on the market. ...

There are nearly 5m self-employed workers in the UK but getting a mortgage if you work for yourself can be tricky if you don’t have the right paperwork in place. ...

Over the last decade millennials have received a lot of flak for relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad. ...

Sainsbury’s Bank has become the latest lender to exit the mortgage market, just six months after Tesco announced that it was pulling out of mortgages. ...

October 1st marked the start of National Home Security Month (NHSM), designed to raise awareness of the importance of keeping your property secure. ...

Take a trip on the underground to find out if you should remortgage...

More than half of first-time buyers (57%) believe they’d be able to borrow up to 10 times’ their income when they take out a mortgage, according to new research. ...

The share of mortgages advanced to those with deposits of less than 10% of the property value has reached its highest level since 2008, according to the Bank of England. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to leave the base rate unchanged this month, at its last meeting before the UK is due to leave the European Union....

More than half of properties in the UK are in areas that are affordable for first-time buyers, according to new research, with Blackpool, Hull and Lincoln among the ‘affordable hotspots.’ ...

Homebuyers and owners wanting the security of a long-term fixed rate mortgage now have a much wider range of options to choose from following the launch of several new 15-year deals. ...

Over half of homeowners never overpay on their mortgage, even though doing so could potentially save them thousands in interest and reduce their mortgage term. ...

Gas Safety Week takes place from 16th – 22nd September, and this year focuses on the most vulnerable members of society and how they can stay gas safe. ...

Lloyds Bank has agreed a deal to buy Tesco Bank’s mortgage book, in a takeover which will see more than 23,000 residential mortgage customers moved over to Lloyds’ Halifax division. ...

People will be able to buy more of their own home more easily under changes to the shared ownership scheme announced last week. ...

Growing numbers of university students are becoming landlords, buying properties that they can live in whilst also collecting rent from their student housemates. ...

With over £24 billion worth of mortgages due to come to an end in October, the Times reported this week on the ongoing battle for remortgage business. ...

Getting onto the property ladder can seem daunting. Here, we explain how much you should aim to save, and some of the things you might be able to do to reach your goal more quickly. ...

Older homeowners have typically been in their properties around 10 years longer than younger owners, as home mover activity in the UK remains subdued. ...

First-time buyer and homemover mortgage numbers dropped slightly in June, with many people putting their plans on hold due to current political and economic uncertainty. ...

The number of homes purchased using Help to Buy increased by 9% in the year to the end of March 2019, with 52,404 properties bought using the scheme over this period. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the base rate at 0.75% in August amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty. ...

If you're selling your home you'll want to get the best price possible, but there could be things you aren't even aware of that are affecting its value. Here we reveal six surprising things that could affect your property's price....

Inflation-busting increases in school fees mean that some parents may consider using equity tied up in their homes to help cover costs. ...

More than £26 billion worth of mortgage deals will come to an end in October, according to research by Yorkshire Building Society, the largest monthly amount of mortgages maturing this year. ...

May saw a sharp increase in the number of people remortgaging and borrowing extra funds, suggesting that many are choosing to improve their homes rather than move. ...

Despite recent reports that self-employed people often believe they’d struggle to get a mortgage, being your own boss won’t necessarily make it harder to get on the property ladder. ...

Buy-to-let landlords are benefiting from cheaper mortgage rates and a wider choice of deals as lenders compete for their business. ...

All new build homes should be sold on a freehold basis in future, in a bid to tackle unfair and exploitative leasehold practices, the government announced in recent weeks. ...

More than 28,000 mortgages running for 35 years or more were approved in 2017, according to data from the Financial Conduct Authority, with a growing number of lenders now offering terms of up to 40 years. ...

House price growth in the UK remains resilient despite ongoing Brexit uncertainty according to Halifax, with prices rising at their fastest annual rate since early 2017. ...

Recent UK Finance figures revealed a significant increase in the number of people ‘staying put’ and remortgaging to release money from their property, many of whom are using the funds to carry out home improvements including extensions. ...

The government has pledged £5m to help boost the number of green mortgages available to homebuyers. ...

The average price of a flat in England has fallen by 2.1% over the year to an average of £220,146, according to the UK House Price Index for April, whereas all other types of property have increased in value. ...

Fancy a flat-pack home? Up to 162 new factory-built homes could soon be constructed in Worthing if a deal between the council and an affordable housing developer co-owned by IKEA goes ahead. ...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep interest rates on hold at 0.75% earlier this month, with ongoing Brexit uncertainty continuing to hamper economic growth. ...

Most mortgage applications go without a hitch, but there are times when applications are refused, leaving buyers or homeowners wondering which way to turn. The good news is that once you know the reasons why a mortgage might be declined you can work on boosting your chances of being accepted. ...