HSBC has today announced an increase in its maximum loan-to-value (LTV) lending limits for residential mortgages. The changes, effective from today, apply to all new-build properties and flats, including non-new-build flats, across the UK. In this news article I will...
Louis Mason
What Is A Gifted Deposit & Do You Have To Declare It?
When purchasing a property, securing a sufficient deposit is one of the most significant financial hurdles you’ll encounter. Saving a large enough deposit, especially when you are having to pay rent and bills at the same time. Can be very difficult. For many, this...
Halifax Expands Foreign Income Mortgage Criteria
Halifax has announced a new exciting change to its mortgage application criteria, that is due to take effect on the 12th of August 2024. In a message to all mortgage brokers this morning, Halifax announced that they will now accept foreign income mortgage...
Can The Banks Cope? A Mortgage Advisor’s Perspective.
What on Earth is going on with the mortgage market at the moment? Lots of conflicting stories on the news and people claiming banks have cancelled their mortgages and now charging them 10% interest to re-apply. In a change up to our usual blog format, one of...
3rd Of Property Offers Are Submitted Within 1 Hour Of Viewing
Intermediary only lender MPowered Mortgages have released figures this morning that surprisingly show that still, even in the face of economic uncertainty, the property market is still flourishing! They have revealed that from their research, 1/3 of property...
Self-employed people. Get your tax documents organised now!
Mortgage lenders will now be requesting new tax documents as proof of your income. Calling all self-employed people. Get your tax documents organised now to make sure you aren't caught out when applying for a mortgage. Generally, when it comes to self-employed people,...
Is Buying Property Now The Savvy Way Forward?
It seems that the only thing the newspapers are talking about right now is how bad the state of the country is economically. Every headline seems to say something about incompetent government ministers, ill-judged tax reductions, the soaring cost of living, and the...
TSB And TMW Increase Mortgage Stress Test Rates
The words generous and mortgage lenders are definitely not synonymous with each other, there's no trying to fake that. For years, lenders have favoured higher earners, repeat buyers, and borrowers with larger than life deposits. And often, first time buyers,...
Skipton Announce New Mortgage Range
Mortgage lender Skipton for intermediaries have returned to the mortgage market along with other lenders like NatWest, Halifax, Barclays and others since the government tax U-turn announced yesterday. Skipton have announced a new mortgage range, focusing on...
Buy Now And Be In Your New Home For Christmas!
Yes...we've said it. The C word. Christmas! In most circumstances, Monday the 3rd of October would be WAY to early to start talking about Christmas however when it comes to mortgages and property you can never be too early. Christmas is 83 days away or just under 12...
Lenders Return To Market With Higher Rates
After the mass lender exodus last week due to the proposed tax cuts, mortgage lenders have thankfully started returning to the market. But with higher rates as expected. When will rates go down again? Who knows. But as mortgage advisors we are very happy that...
Government Backtracks On 45p Tax Cut
Despite the chancellor and Liz Truss's new conservative government announcing their mini budget last week, they have already been forced to go back on their word due to a massive backlash from the public and financial institutions. The major issue in the budget...
What Is The Nationwide Helping Hand Mortgage?
As a first time buyer, it may seem like the whole property market is against you at times. Especially because of recent economic events and the frenzy the lenders seem to have gone through over the last few days. But thankfully the banks seem to have calmed down a bit...
Can Lenders Cancel My Mortgage Application?
As a direct result of the mini budget announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng a few days ago, the mortgage world has been thrown into a state of panic to put it lightly. Despite there not actually being any reason to panic at the moment,...
The Importance Of Insurance – Real Life Stories
As financial advisors, we at Oportfolio make it our mission to ensure that all of our clients receive the best possible mortgage and protection advice that not only benefits them but benefits their family and loved ones too. Getting adequate life insurance, critical...
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