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Outrage at “shameful” Halifax move to cut maximum age on some products

There’s been an angry reaction to news that from today - March 18 - Halifax is changing the maximum age allowed...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage shelf-life plummets and lenders hike rate

The average shelf-life of a mortgage product is just 15 days, with lenders increasing fixed rates, says Moneyfacts. Average mortgage rates on...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Analysts unsure whether RICS housing market optimism is justified

The latest housing market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows the number of buyers has risen for the...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Fintech renews long term link with Legal & General Mortgage Club

Mortgage and protection CRM platform Smartr365 has renewed its longstanding partnership with Legal & General Mortgage Club. The agreement means members of...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Many landlords to end fixed-rate deals soon, says lender

Some 40% of residential landlords with a mortgage - fixed, tracker or discount - are due to renew their mortgage rate...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Cambridge enhances buy to let criteria with re-introduction of top slicing

The Cambridge Building Society has re-introduced top slicing on its standard Buy to Let range up to 80 per cent LTV. This...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

 Kensington reduces rates and fees on selected products

Kensington Mortgages has lowered rates and reduced arrangement fees across selected 90 and 95 per cent Loan To Value products. For its...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

New analysis shows link between rates and longer mortgage terms

The ‘average’ 25 year mortgage term is increasingly becoming a thing of the past says USwitch. A recent study of the data...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing market buoyancy shows mortgage costs not a deterrent

New data from Zoopla suggests that the housing market is becoming buoyant despite widespread uncertainty over the exact direction of mortgage...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Brokerage survey gives surprise result for first time buyers’ affordability

A new study has revealed the best and worst UK regions for first-time buyers based on house affordability and earning potential.  The...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Nationwide’s bold move will make it even bigger mortgage lender

The Nationwide Building Society has agreed to buy Virgin Money in a £2.9 billion deal - a rare example of a...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tech-boost for Dutch-style mortgage provider entering the market

April Mortgages has struck a deal for new technology to help it introduce Dutch-style loans into the UK. The new mortgage type...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Foundation Home Loans targets first time landlords

Foundation Home Loans has launched two HMO products for first-time landlords under its ‘Buy to Let by Foundation’ wrapper. Both are available...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Dip in demand for new builds as interest rates keep buyers at bay

Homebuyer appetites for new-build properties have dipped. Demand dropped 1.1 per cent in the last quarter according to analysis by easyMoney of...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

IMLA accuses Hunt of “sop” in Budget that does nothing for rental sector

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association has given the thumbs down to the Budget of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The trade body was disappointed...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Budget Day - Rightmove pours cold water on 99% mortgage idea

Rightmove says the housing market needs a more innovative mortgage initiative than the 99 per cent idea floated by the government. The...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents impatient with mortgage lenders despite better news on sales

The estate agents’ trade body has made the unexpected move of calling on banks to cut mortgage rates. Rates are typically decided...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Building society bans mortgages on holiday let properties

A building society has launched a pilot project banning mortgage lending on holiday lets in two tourist areas for 12 months. Leeds...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Just Mortgages reports soaring interest in emerging new build sector

Shared ownership has given the new-build division at national brokerage Just Mortgages a bumper start to 2024. New build leads and enquiries...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Brokers’ amazing work honoured by bank’s CEO at awards event

The chief executive of a specialist business bank has paid tribute to the ‘amazing work’ carried out by its broker network. Gary...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Experts slam lenders for ultra-short notice repricing of mortgage products

Experts have lashed out at lenders who reprice products, sometimes with just a few hours’ notice. And many suggest that lenders are...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Was Halifax rate reduction just a cynical marketing ploy?

Last week Halifax - previously an outlier amongst major lenders - announced it was raising rates, following the likes of Santander,...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

BTL fixed rates plummet as product choice rises again

The buy to let mortgage sector has seen fixed rates fall to their lowest point since September 2022, according to analysis...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Innovative new trackers aim at buy to let and development investors

Hampshire Trust Bank has launched a limited edition two year discounted Flex tracker across its buy to let and semi-commercial offerings....

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Hodge announces changes to 50+, Retirement and Holiday Let products

Hodge has made significant changes to its 50+, Retirement Interest Only (RIO) and Holiday Let Mortgage property criteria. The updates include the...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

FCA launches working group to probe interest-only mortgages

The Financial Conduct Authority is working with 12 lenders and administrators to probe the interest-only mortgage market. The number of IO and...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Lender says first time buyers lean heavily on families to bag first mortgage

A survey of 2,000 adults by lender Together sheds light on parental help for first time buyers. It shows that a fifth...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Downsizers can unlock housing market and upsize their retirement plans

Downsizers across England and Wales could unlock an average £305,090 by moving from a four bed to a two bed home,...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Financial Crime attempts target high numbers of regulated firms

Some 42 per cent of regulated firms are reporting a rise in financial crime attempts, while more than a quarter say...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Most activity down to remortgagers not buyers - analysis

Remortgagers, not buyers, are fuelling the increase in mortgage industry activity. That’s the view of Octane Capital following an analysis of Bank...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Halifax throws “a massive mortgage curveball” defying rivals

Halifax moved entirely in the opposite direction to its rivals at the very end of last week, cutting rates instead of...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Most Rates Up Again - optimism plummets amongst brokers and analysts

It’s been a torrid time for rates, going back up for HSBC, Santander, TSB, Virgin Money, NatWest and many other mainstream...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty’s damage to borrowers exposed by building society

The true cost of stamp duty is two thirds greater than the tax itself because it obliges buyers to spend far...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Agency recruits mortgage heavyweight to lead financial services surge

Tom Davies has started with Leaders Romans Group as the company’s first group financial services managing director. This new position coincides with...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage volumes plummet for older borrowers

There were 29,060 new mortgages taken out by older borrowers over 55 in the last three months of 2023 - down...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Coupling Up - why so many mortgage applicants are duos

A property agency has analysed the lending and housing markets to work out why so many mortgage applicants are couples. Benham and...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Rent To Home initiative aims to woo local first time buyers

A unique system of returning rent to tenants to allow them to save for a deposit on a property has been...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Surge in interest in Energy Efficient Homes - study’s claim

There’s been a surge in enthusiasm for energy efficient homes according to research from heat pump advocates OVO. It says that a...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Worst Case Scenario - mortgage costs up hundreds per year

A specialist lender claims that first-time buyers could see annual mortgage costs climb by £398 per year, while landlords suffer a...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Will stable inflation prompt a rate cut? Or will the Bank stick?

Diverse views have emerged from financial services figures in response to last week’s news that the headline rate of inflation remained...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

NatWest rates up and plenty of others to follow - warning

NatWest has made changes to its product ranges for both new business and existing customers. New borrowers can expect a rate increase...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Portfolio landlords eye capital raising to fund 2024 expansion plans

Nearly four in 10 portfolio landlords, those with four or more properties, plan to increase the size of their portfolios in...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Two year fixes fall by fastest rate since 2022 - Moneyfacts

Average mortgage rates on the overall two- and five-year fixed rate deals have now been falling for six consecutive months. The overall...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Specialist lender Cohort Capital hits bridging milestone

After reaching the milestone of £250m in 2022, specialist lender Cohort Capital increased originations by 60 per cent in 2023 to...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Higher LTVs for borrowers aged 70 and 80, says Pure Retirement

Lifetime mortgage lender Pure Retirement has continued its ongoing product development in its Heritage range. The Special 3 product will offer up...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

It’s Back! Confidence returns to the mortgage market says IMLA

The latest Mortgage Market Tracker report from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association reveals that confidence has returned to the mortgage market,...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

First Time Buyers aged 50-plus “one of fastest growing sectors”

There were 12,000 first time buyers over the age of 50 in the UK in 2022, the latest figures available. This means that...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Virgin Money sees long-term mortgage improvements despite recent dip

High street bank Virgin Money UK says there is light at the end of the tunnel for mortgages and the housing...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

UK Finance lobbies government for new Help To Buy and less Stamp Duty

Lenders’ trade body UK Finance wants the government to use next month’s Budget to announce a new Help to Buy scheme...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Octane Capital issues a brutal warning on mortgage rates

By Jonathan Samuels, chief executive of specialist property lender Octane Capital, writes: The Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates on...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Revolutionary new mortgage product sees rates fall as LTV improves

There’s been widespread speculation that the UK is just weeks away from seeing the launch of a Dutch mortgage product with...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

TSB raises some rates, reduces others; NatWest and Halifax increase

With the quick-fire mortgage rate cuts which characterised the past month now slipping into the rear-view mirror, the latest changes from...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

FinTech platform slashes charges to mortgage advisers for a second time

Unbiased, a platform for connecting with prospective clients, has slashed charges it imposes on mortgage advisers for a second consecutive month. Unbiased...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Worrying rise in mortgage arrears and repossessions - new data

UK Finance says there were 93,680 homeowner mortgages in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance in...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

LSL completes on acquisition of mortgage industry supplier

It’s taken six months but LSL Property Services has announced that its acquisition of TenetLime is now complete. At the end of...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Lender’s internal data reveals shocking fast-growing arrears

Global intelligence company Pepper Advantage, which has a portfolio of over 100,000 UK residential mortgages, says there’s been a dramatic increase...

07 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Free Teach-In for brokers expanding into Self-Employed Lending

FinTech supplier Mortgage Brain has partnered with HSBC UK to host a free online masterclass on self-employed lending.  Taking place on February...

07 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Falling house prices and big mortgages – three major risks

Business consultancy Hargreaves Lansdown has identified three major risks associated with the current market, characterised by falling house prices and larger...

07 February 2024

From: Breaking News

House builders back Labour for long term construction growth

A Knight Frank survey of 50 house builders shows a staggering 70 per cent support for Labour to win the next...

07 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Finance houses buddy up to provide Sharia-compliant residential loans

Access Financial Services has partnered with Nomo Bank to offer Sharia-compliant property finance for UK rental and residential property. The products address...

07 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Nationwide’s shock rate rise may not be the only one - warning

At the middle of last week Nationwide slashed its rates to the most competitive of all in the current lenders price...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Commercial property lending forecast to soar in next four years

There are clear signs the commercial property market is adjusting to today’s high interest rate environment according to specialist lender Together. Its...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage Market Bounce drives housing market recovery

The number of mortgages offered to home buyers went up from 49,300 in November to 50,500 in December, against the normal...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Vast majority of High Net Worth Individuals suffer mortgage rejections

The vast majority of high net worth individuals have faced mortgage rejections and had to accept lower loan-to-value ratios than they...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Halifax explains why most first time buyer applications are in joint names

Almost two thirds of first time buyers mortgage completions are in joint names (with two or more people), according to the...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

First Time Buyers less reliant on parents for raising deposits - research

New research indicates that the Bank of Mum and Dad may not be as prevalent as it once was, with the...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Boost In Buy To Let Lending expected this year say brokers

Just under half of mortgage brokers expect to place more limited company buy-to-let business throughout the next 12 months, Paragon Bank...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

House prices fragile but sentiment amongst buyers very strong - Savills

Respected estate agency and property consultancy Savills is warning that house prices may dip in 2024. In the run-up to Christmas it...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Lender revamps lending criteria for high-skilled foreign nationals

MPowered Mortgages is changing its lending criteria for Tier 2, high-skilled foreign nationals across its range of products. It says this forms part...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Just Mortgages reveals details of its leadership programme

National brokerage Just Mortgages has opened nominations for its new leadership programme, which it claims is “designed to find and develop...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Nationwide’s slashed rates take lending war to fever pitch

The UK's largest building society has slashed its cheapest mortgage rate to an eight-month low and significantly under the Bank of...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

All To Play For - Seller confidence soars for 2024

London estate agency Foxtons says its latest survey shows a major uptick in the confidence of potential sellers.  While 38 per cent...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

First Time Buyers seek larger deposits - help may be on the way

New research from Aldermore suggests that some 55 per cent of prospective first time buyers are currently seeking to raise a...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Growing interest in longer-term mortgages - but borrowers pay dearly…

The number of mortgages with over 30-year terms sold to UK borrowers jumped 13 per cent in the year to end...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Negative effects of mortgages on housing market “overstated” - claim

The negative effects of higher mortgage rates on affordability were overestimated throughout 2023 with house prices having dropped one one to...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

New mortgage targets landlords planning ‘light refurbs’ on BTL units

The Suffolk Building Society has launched new mortgage products aimed at private landlords who are planning refurbishments, such as a new...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage costs push big jump in buy to let landlord incorporation

Despite a sharp fall in the number of homes bought by landlords in 2023, the number of limited companies set up...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgages for Business announces rebrand after 34 years

Mortgages for Business is rebranding to Mortgage Finance Brokers, or MFB. A statement from managing director Gavin Richardson says: “It’s now a...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

New Homes 2024 Market Insight from Knight Frank

Leading agency Knight Frank says demand for new homes is generally robust, dependent upon the location and pricing.  It says its regional...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Happy Holidays! Lifetime mortgage funds fuel trips of a lifetime

Lifetime mortgage fund usage continues to show a mixture of aspirational and needs-based borrowing, according to figures from lender Pure Retirement....

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage defaults jump - and there may be worse to come

Banks are reporting that default rates increased in the final quarter of 2023, albeit more slowly than the quarter before -...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Shock government figure means likely delays to first rate cut

There are growing fears that the hoped-for Bank of England base rate cut this spring - the first off possibly several...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

First Time Buyers may get 25 year fixed term mortgages under Labour

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves says first time buyers could benefit from a "revolution in home ownership" with 25-year fixed-rate mortgages. Reeves says...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

No more progress chasing for lenders, pledges HM Land Registry

HM Land Registry says it’s working with mortgage lenders to ensure they will no longer need to chase conveyancers for updates...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Promising start to 2024 House Buying Prospects - Rightmove

The average price of property coming onto the market for sale rises by 1.3 per cent (equivalent to £4,571 for an...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Choice of Mortgage Deals on the rise as rates dip

The UK’s residential mortgage market has started 2024 with the biggest choice of products for prospective borrowers in over 15 years. A...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Remortgaging via digital conveyancing - bank claims ‘UK first’

Shawbrook has become the first bank in the UK to offer limited companies the ability to remortgage using the digital conveyancing...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Building Society demands stamp duty exemptions for downsizers

The Family Building Society has commissioned the London School of Economics to explore the UK’s housing. Its report - called A Road...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Debt crisis hits low earners - arrears rising

A regular financial resilience barometer from a leading consultancy shows that the debt position of the lowest fifth of earners has...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Webinar for brokers operating in commercial property market

Property lender Together is holding its third webinar for brokers in its Chalk Live series, offering new educational content along with...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

FCA to probe historic mis-selling following public complaints

Three years ago the Financial Conduct Authority banned discretionary commission arrangements in a bid to end the incentive for brokers to...

15 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Bank of England chief warns of ‘future shocks’ derailing recovery

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey is warning that ‘future shocks’ may yet derail economic recovery. In a session with MPs at...

15 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Lenders sacrifice profits for volume as rates fall yet again

The war between rival mortgage lenders continues with Halifax late last week undertaking its second re-price of the year (and it’s...

15 January 2024

From: Breaking News

First Time Buyers and mortgages - new study shows the help they get

A high proportion of first time buyers take advantage of some form of assistance when purchasing their initial home. That’s the verdict...

15 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Housebuilder volumes better than expected - but uncertain times ahead

One of the UK’s biggest house builders, the FTSE 250-listed Persimmon, says its 2023 sales were better than expected - but...

15 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Building Society warns it may stop lending on holiday lets

A building society says it is considering ending its policy of lending to buyers of holiday lets. Martese Carton, the director of...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Awareness of Green Mortgages plummets - new figures

Awareness of green mortgages is dipping among buyers, according to new research. Almost two thirds of mortgage advisers say their clients have...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Nationwide’s Warning - no housing market rebound likely in 2024

There’s no prospect of a rapid recovery for the housing market in 2024 despite some green shoots appearing. The warning comes from...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Revealed - demographic finding it hardest to pay off a mortgage

The so-called Generation X - those born between 1965 and 1980 - are finding it hardest to pay off their mortgage,...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

It takes six weeks to arrange mortgage - claim

A property-focussed law firm claims it takes a whole working day to obtain a Mortgage In Principle and up to six...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

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