Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Property?
Last week, senior mortgage and protection advisor at Oportfolio Mortgages, Jade Pinkerton attended the latest Coutts and Savills market update webinar. Many interesting property related discussions were held. Perhaps the most interesting and thought provoking...
Buy-to-Let Investment: Is It Still A Good Idea?
This week, senior mortgage and protection advisor at Oportfolio Mortgages Jade Pinkerton attended the latest Coutts Bank and Savills Market Update webinar. One hot topic of discussion was the UK buy-to-let market, and whether it was still ‘worth it’. In this blog, I...
Is Now a Good Time To Buy Residential Property?
This week, senior mortgage and protection advisor at Oportfolio Mortgages Jade Pinkerton attended the latest Coutts Bank and Savills Market Update webinar. Many topics were discussed, but one of particular interest was the questions “Is now a good time to buy...
NatWest Buy-To-Let Stress Rate Reduced
In a move that is set to benefit landlords and property investors across the UK, NatWest has recently unveiled some reductions in their Buy-to-Let stress rate tests. The adjustments, which come into effect immediately, reflect NatWest's commitment to supporting the...
New NatWest Criteria for Non-UK Nationals Purchasing in the UK
In a recent move that is set to simplify the mortgage application process for non-UK nationals, NatWest has unveiled a new policy change concerning the use of share codes in conjunction with passports. This new change to NatWest's criteria opens up new possibilities...
Understanding TSB’s Mortgage Affordability Criteria
Buying a home is a significant financial milestone, and securing a mortgage is often a crucial step in this process. TSB, a prominent retail and commercial bank, has established a set of mortgage affordability criteria to ensure that potential borrowers can...
Pros and Cons of Buying Property With Friends or Family
Purchasing a residential house is a significant milestone in anyone's life, often symbolising financial stability and personal achievement. However, the soaring property prices in recent years have made this dream a bit more challenging to attain. Mortgage...
Understanding BM Solutions Mortgage Affordability For Buy-to-Lets
Owning a property is an aim held by many, and owning further properties to rent out and earn a secondary income is a dream that can become a reality, with the right mortgage partner and broker. In this blog post, we'll explore the realm of mortgage affordability with...
Virgin Introduces New Mortgage Products Whilst Retiring Others
In an effort to adapt to the ever changing UK mortgage market, Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is set to launch a series of new mortgage products today (23rd of August 2023). These offerings cater to a range of borrowers, from...
Leeds Building Society Cuts Mortgage Rates for Select Products
Leeds Building Society, a prominent name in the mortgage industry, has recently announced a move to reduce mortgage rates for certain products, aiming to provide enhanced financial benefits to potential homebuyers and homeowners. The institution's decision to adjust...
HSBC Reduce Rates On Entire Product Range
In a significant development for the mortgage market, HSBC has revealed upcoming changes to its mortgage product ranges that are set to take effect from this Wednesday, the 23rd of August 2023. These updates will impact both residential borrowers and Buy-to-Let (BTL)...
Strain Felt By London Homeowners as 1/3 Face Mortgage Struggles
London homeowners are facing a mounting financial challenge as new analysis by City Hall reveals that a significant portion, one third to be exact, feel that they are at risk of struggling to meet their mortgage payments over the next six months. This distressing...
Skipton Slashes Rates on 100% Mortgages
Several months ago, we reported that Skipton Building Society, a prominent name in the mortgage market, were launching 100% mortgages to new borrowers. Essentially allowing borrowers to get a mortgage on a property without putting down the normal minimum 5% deposit....
The Importance of Remortgaging and Product Switching
In a pretty daunting announcement for the UK mortgage market, data from the CACI Mortgage Market Database revealed that a staggering £111 billion worth of residential mortgages and £15.8 billion of Buy-to-Let mortgages are set to mature before the end of the year....
Slow Growth in UK House Prices Reported by the ONS
In a recent report released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average UK house prices experienced a modest increase of 1.7% in the year leading up to June 2023, signalling a potential shift in the dynamics of the property market. The data reveals a...
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