Last year, despite the pandemic, there were 674,263 houses sold in the UK and a staggering 356,800 of these were bought by first time buyers. Now that is fantastic news! Not only does that show that the housing market is still chugging along at a steady pace, but it...

Mark Gledhill - Oportfolio advice client since 2008 Mark and his wife came to Oportfolio for advice in 2008 as first time buyers with a new baby and in need of some expert help and guidance. With Oportfolio’s advice and knowledge around the homebuying process, Mark...

The government has announced that this winter they will launch the all new ‘Help to Build’ scheme, available to people looking to get stuck in and build their own home.

Making improvements to your house or apartment can be an exciting process, especially when you finally get the chance to make your own mark on a property and it really becomes YOUR home. Making improvements can also add a great deal of value to your home. From...

Going to the gym helps you build your fitness and improve your endurance. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, the gym can also help your mental well being, by improving your mood, sleep, and brain function. When you’re living and working in London, life can be...

At the start of 2018 the Bank of England was warning that interest rates would almost certainly have to rise in order to keep pace with inflation and the Government’s economic targets. By August of that year, the threat of rising rates had receded and in the time...

There are some things that most of us would prefer not to think about such as getting protected. That’s why the consumer watchdog Which? estimates that only 54% of people have a Will. It probably also explains why, according to a recent report for a leading insurance...

For most people, the process of buying a first home stirs up a whirlwind of emotions. It’s exciting, of course – getting on the housing ladder is a significant milestone in life – but it can also be stressful, overwhelming and exhausting, especially if you don’t have...

What is a mortgage payment holiday? A mortgage holiday is an arranged break from paying your monthly mortgage payment. Whether that is capital and interest or purely interest only. Mortgage holidays are temporary and should only be taken in unavoidable and serious...

We’re living through strange times in the housing market where open an house allows a full afternoon of ten-minute viewings, resulting in immediate offers being put in at asking price – or above. Long gone are the days when the buyer holds the power and a lower...

You’ve probably already got a lot of monthly outgoings, and no-one wants to add to that long list of standing orders – unless, of course, it’s a vital part of your financial future. Getting life insurance could help your loved ones pay for exactly those outgoings when...