Landlords and property investors have seemingly received a bit of a boost this morning as BM Solutions (Birmingham Midshires) announced an increase in their maximum loan-to-value (LTV) for buy-to-let mortgages to 80%. From tomorrow, you will be able to get a 20%...
Louis Mason
Is Investing In Property In The North A Wise Move?
The North of England isn’t just synonymous with cheap pints, brit-pop and pies anymore! It seems that the North of England is capturing the attention of property investors like never before. Paragon Bank’s recent report, The Factors Driving the Buy-to-Let Market in...
UK Rental And Mortgage Payments Reach Highest Level In 13 Months
According to the recently released Barclays Property Insights report, UK rental and mortgage payments have surged to their highest level in over a year, with an increase of 6.4% in October 2024. This marks the steepest growth in housing costs since September 2023, yet...
Halifax House Price Index Reveals December Surge But Warns of Potential 2024 Downturn
In the latest Halifax House Price Index report for December 2023, UK house prices have experienced a third consecutive monthly rise, but experts caution a potential downturn in 2024. December UK House Price Surge According to the Halifax House Price Index, the average...
TSB Makes 2024 Changes To Mortgage Rates
TSB has just announced substantial changes to mortgage rates set to take effect on Friday the 5th of January 2024. The news comes as a welcome development for prospective homeowners and existing borrowers looking to secure a more favourable deal this year, in what...
HSBC Announces Cuts to Mortgage Rates in the New Year
In another move that is sure to delight homeowners and potential buyers alike, HSBC has unveiled a series of reductions to its mortgage product rates, effective from Thursday the 4th of January 2024. The adjustments span across various residential and buy-to-let (BTL)...
Do I Need Critical Illness Cover?
Life is a journey fraught with unexpected twists and turns, and not all of them bring joy unfortunately. While it's human nature to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of our health, the reality is that many of us will face a serious illness at some point in our...
Halifax Storms into 2024 with Some Big Mortgage Changes
This morning Halifax has unveiled significant changes to its mortgage product range, leaving homebuyers and homeowners alike with plenty to celebrate as they step into the new year. The alterations, spanning Homebuyer, Remortgage, Product Transfer, and Further Advance...
Equity Release Mortgages in 2024
As 2023 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on the past year's trends in the mortgage market and look ahead to what 2024 may hold. In a message to Oportfolio Mortgages brokers, Mike Hardy of The Equity Release Experts offers a promising outlook for the coming year,...
A Shift Towards Ethical Mortgages Gains Momentum
In a noteworthy trend, our advisors at Oportfolio Mortgages have seen a significant increase in client requests for mortgages aligned with ethical banking practices. This shift reflects a growing awareness among consumers about the impact of their financial decisions...
Oportfolio Mortgages: A 2023 Round-Up of the Mortgage Market
Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year from everyone here at Oportfolio! As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to reflect on the tumultuous yet transformative year that unfolded in the mortgage market. From soaring highs to challenging lows, the industry...
Average UK Mortgage Rates December 2023
As the summer sun continues to shine upon the United Kingdom (Just kidding!), the mortgage market has seen subtle movements in average mortgage rates during the last week of December 2023. According to the latest data released by Uswitch.com, a leading comparison...
RICS Market Survey Shows Positive Signs For UK Property
This month the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors released their November 2023 RICS Residential Market Survey, a survey which analyses the residential property market and trends. Against a backdrop of challenges, subtle shifts and emerging trends bring a somewhat...
UK Homebuyers Eager to Pay More for Energy Efficient Property
A recent study by Uswitch has uncovered a significant shift in the priorities of UK homebuyers, with more than 4 in 10 (43%) indicating a willingness to pay a premium for energy efficient properties. The findings reveal a growing trend among buyers who are...
Virgin Money Launches Revised Affordability Lending Criteria
In a significant development announced today, Virgin Money has adjusted its lending criteria, paving the way for potential homebuyers to secure larger mortgages and enjoy extended terms. As exclusive mortgage brokers and as part of the PRIMIS mortgage network,...
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