BOROWERS FAVOUR SHORTER MORTGAGE TERMS Data from the Bank of England shows that UK borrowers are currently favouring two-year fixed-rate deals. In Q2 of this year, half of new mortgages were two-year deals, with only 35% opting for five-year terms. Borrowers are probably hoping to remortgage to a cheaper [...]
RENOVATION OVER RELOCATION Millions of UK homeowners are choosing to renovate their existing home instead of moving. In England and Wales, about 1.7 million homes (one in 15 properties) have undergone significant renovation work. These homes are marked with ‘official improvement indicators’, showing that they have had major structural [...]
RISING DEMAND FOR CHAIN-FREE HOMES AS STAMP DUTY DEADLINE APPROACHES As a result of changes to Stamp Duty announced in the last budget there has been a significant surge in demand for homes that are chain-free and the UK property market is buzzing as buyers seek a speedy move [...]
CONSIDERATIONS FOR FTBS Getting onto the property ladder has always been a challenge, but perhaps even more so at the moment. A report has found that it is currently the most expensive time to be a first-time buyer (FTB) in over 70 years1. Managing monthly payments Higher mortgage repayments [...]
ARE INTEREST RATES ABOUT TO PLUMMET? Having barely shifted since last autumn, many analysts expect that interest rates may start edging down. What will that mean for mortgage borrowers and anyone looking to remortgage? Time for a fall? Most analysts agree that interest rates have peaked but there is [...]
STRESS IMPACTS MORTGAGE APPLICANTS A new study1 has highlighted that almost two thirds (64%) of mortgage applicants in the UK have struggled with feelings of stress and anxiety over the last year. This figure increases to 80% amongst first time buyers who are clearly finding the process challenging. With [...]
SHOULD I OVERPAY MY MORTGAGE? Whilst many people may be struggling to keep up payments on their mortgages in the wake of steep interest rate rises, there are a significant number of homeowners who may be wondering whether it is worthwhile paying more than the minimum statutory repayments each [...]
LIFE COVER AND YOUR MORTGAGE - HAND IN HAND One of the financial responsibilities of homeownership is to protect yourself and your family. Life insurance and your mortgage are inseparable companions. Life insurance provides a safety net. A payout can pay off the remaining mortgage balance, ensuring that your [...]
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE REMORTGAGING With mortgage rates at their highest since the 2008 financial crisis1, those looking to remortgage have more to think about than usual. Many whose deals are coming up for renewal will have agreed their mortgage at a time when Bank Rate was just 0.1%. [...]
CONSIDERING CHOOSING A 'MAMMOTH' MORTGAGE? A standard mortgage used to run for 25 years but there is a growing trend for so-called ‘mammoth’ loans spread over up to 40 years as first-time buyers and movers opt for lower monthly payments. A dramatic increase According to UK Finance, the last [...]
