Barclays has announced a major update to its affordability policy, increasing its maximum residential loan-to-income (LTI) multiple from 5.5x to 6x. This change is significant for borrowers who need a higher income stretch to secure the mortgage they want, especially...
What Is a Mortgage Holiday? A mortgage holiday, also known as a mortgage payment holiday, is a temporary break from making your regular monthly mortgage payments. It’s an arrangement made with your lender that allows you to pause your repayments for a short, agreed...
It sounds simple enough, “We lend up to 5x your income.” But as Santander’s latest market update made clear, these catchy marketing lines can be misleading. In this bite sized blog, we will explore larger income multiple borrowing and what it actually means to people...
Buying property in London is a massive financial commitment, and the mortgage process can feel like a maze. Over the years at Oportfolio, we've seen many clients come to us after running into avoidable mistakes. Here's what we believe are the five biggest mortgage...
When planning to buy a home or invest in property, one of the biggest questions is: how expensive is a mortgage? The answer isn’t always straightforward. Mortgages come in different types, terms, and interest structures, all of which impact the total cost you’ll pay...
The Mortgage Works (TMW), a leading Buy to Let lender, has today announced a reduction in affordability stress rates for individual landlords, making it easier for them to borrow more on selected mortgage applications. Changes To Buy-To-Let Mortgage Affordability...
Average mortgage rates in the UK have dipped again in June, though the declines are smaller than last month’s drops, according to the latest data from Moneyfacts. Meanwhile, product choice has decreased slightly, and the shelf-life of mortgage deals has shortened. In...
Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of attending a truly memorable evening hosted by Guardian Financial Services to celebrate the release of the Guardian Financial Services 2024 Claims Report. Held at the stunning Wagtail rooftop bar in King William Street, central...
If you're looking to purchase a home, one of the initial and most important things you'll be wanting to know is: how much can I borrow (mortgage)? Having an understanding of your borrowing capacity is the secret to a realistic budget and getting the correct property....
Big news from Halifax! In a somewhat unexpected move from one of the biggest lenders in the UK mortgage market, Halifax has just announced a major upgrade to its mortgage income criteria, making it easier for people with bonus income or NHS overtime to qualify for a...
The UK housing market enjoyed its busiest May ever since the 2021 pandemic bubble, according to the most recent House Price Index (HPI) by Zoopla. Sales agreed increased to a four-year high due to improved mortgage affordability, competitive levels of lending, and a...
Remortgagers and homebuyers need to act quickly as Santander has announced a blanket increase in its fixed rate mortgage ranges, effective on Tuesday the 27th of May 2025. These will apply to new business and product transfer mortgage rates across the board for home...
New research from specialist lender The Mortgage Lender (TML) reveals that a large number of self-employed individuals, particularly sole traders, are being held back from homeownership by widespread sole trader mortgage misconceptions. According to TML’s study, 28%...
With mortgage rates dropping and headlines buzzing, many homeowners and first-time buyers are excited about lower monthly repayments. But there’s more good news that’s flying under the radar, falling interest rates are also increasing how much some buyers can borrow....
First-time buyers searching for ways to get on the property ladder in 2025 have just received a welcome boost from NatWest. The high street bank has announced a series of major changes to its mortgage affordability rules, as well as the launch of a brand-new...
If you have any questions about UK mortgage news or anything you’ve read then please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.