Welcome to our blogs which relate to the financial services you may be interested in from mortgages to pensions; protection to auto-enrolment and many more. So why not grab a drink and enjoy the read.
For the first time in more than 10 years the Bank of England has raised interest rates. The official bank rate has been lifted from 0.25% to 0.5%, the first increase since July 2007. The Bank cautioned that any future increases would be gradual and limited, but added that it stood ready to respond to changes in the economic outlook.
A recent survey conducted shows big differences between how different generations handle their mortgage affairs. Homeowners aged between 19-34 were more likely to hold a repayment mortgage (92%) than their over 55 counterparts (68%). Being on a repayment mortgage means that the size of the 19-34’s mortgage is gradually decreasing whereas 32% of over 55’s are only paying interest from
House prices have been increasing month on month for some time now, which has only increased the challenges that now face First Time buyers up and down the country. Whether it be struggling to build a deposit, or having sufficient income to pass affordability checks, which could be about to become harder following recent Bank of England announcements, First Time
Re-mortgaging your property has seen a year on year and, month on month increase for the month of April. Many people are seeing an opportunity to release equity from their home. On average, homeowners were re-mortgaging to raise £29,148 for them to use for home improvements or to clear other burdens. This is all happening when the mortgage market is
For some, the prospect of a mortgage to help purchase a first or new home can feel almost impossible due to their credit history . However, there are a small number of lenders, who although they often offer rates higher than mainstream lenders are specialist in providing mortgages for such situations. We utilise our full understanding of the individuals circumstances,
Mortgages have seen a huge development in competition at the start of this year. Many lenders have been offering their greatest ever rates for all a wide range of products from two to five year fixes and 60% -90% loan to values (LTV). And now, research conducted by a mortgage sourcing company has found the overall costs of mortgages are
Mortgages have historically run for 25 years. They have over time developed and many lenders offer terms from between 5-35 years. However, some lenders are now allowing you to mortgage your property well into your retirement. How does it work? Lenders will assess affordability based on your current circumstances, which for many people, will result in greater levels of affordability,
Being a First-Time Buyer and taking your first step onto the property ladder is always a big life stage. For many, it is the most expensive purchase we are likely to make. It has also been well documented about how difficult it can be for first time buyers in the current market with house prices rising much quicker than national
Buy-To-let Landlords are to be taxed differently from April. Here are the main changes and how you should start planning for them now. The two key changes that will impact upon this are: Finance costs, including mortgage interest, are being phased out until that they can no longer be deducted in 2020/21 when calculating taxable income. The amount of tax
Stamp duty is often one of the biggest costs associated with purchasing your home. For some people and properties, it can be enough to put them off. However, a new scheme is being released by some lenders that will enable you to receive cashback to cover the stamp duty costs as part of their mortgage agreement. How does it work: