Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Suffolk Building Society Launches JBSP Mortgages Up to 90% LTV
Suffolk Building Society has implemented a series of important reforms to its lending criteria, welcoming more and more UK borrowers to its products. This comes after enhancements to Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) mortgages, improved lending conditions for new...
HSBC and Virgin Money Increase Mortgage Rates September 2025
Two of Britain's biggest lenders, Virgin Money and HSBC, both last week revealed mortgage rate increases, which will take effect this September. The increases affect a broad range of products in the purchase, remortgage, buy-to-let (BTL), and product transfer ranges...
TSB Cuts Rates on Additional Borrowing Mortgages
TSB has released some refreshed rate changes across its range of mortgages today, including reductions in residential further borrowing mortgages, as part of the lender's strategy to improve affordability and meet customers' evolving needs. Here is what you need to...
Halifax Increases Borrowing Power for First-Time Buyers in the UK
Getting on the UK housing ladder is never a simple one, especially for first-time buyer mortgage UK applicants who are eager to balance rising house prices with limited savings. Yet Halifax, one of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders, has recently made a major change to...
Santander Mortgages Improve Loan to Income Multiples for UK Buyers
Looking for Santander mortgages with better borrowing power? As of the 12th of August 2025, Santander has raised its Loan to Income (LTI) multiples, allowing UK homeowners to borrow more, especially for mortgages with up to 90% Loan to Value...
Private Bank Mortgages in the UK – Coutts Announces New Lending Criteria
If you’re exploring a private bank mortgage in the UK, you may already be aware of Coutts, one of the most recognised private banks in Britain. Known for working with high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and those with complex income, Coutts has recently updated...
How to Get a Mortgage in the UK – Your Top Questions Answered
Googling mortgage advice or asking AI helpers like ChatGPT how to buy a home? You're not the only one. At Oportfolio Mortgages, we totally get how overwhelming mortgages can be, especially with so much confusing information on the internet. We've gathered and answered...
Credit Score Mortgage Myth: Real Client Story
At Oportfolio Mortgages, we hear many common mortgage myths that hold potential homebuyers back. One of the biggest misconceptions? Thinking that a low credit score automatically means you can’t get a mortgage. Myth: “Their Credit Score Was Too Low to Get Approved”...
Precise Launches 6x Income Mortgage and 95% LTV Lending
Precise Mortgages has unveiled a new mortgage range offering up to six times your income, alongside loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of up to 95%. This move could transform the borrowing potential for first-time buyers, home movers, and remortgagers who have struggled to...
Metro Bank HMO Mortgages Launched
Metro Bank has officially launched into the HMO mortgage and Multi Unit Freehold Block (MUFB) markets, bringing a fresh wave of opportunity for UK landlords and property investors. This strategic move comes at a crucial time, as demand for HMO properties continues to...
Reflections on Today’s Mortgage Market: A Perspective from Oportfolio Mortgages
The mortgage market and property markets in the UK have experienced significant changes in recent years, influenced by a multitude of economic factors. Terms like "interest rate fluctuations," "gilt yields," and "cost of living pressures" are now being used in...
BM Solutions’ New Limited Company Buy-to-Let Offering
Birmingham Midshires (BM Solutions), a leading UK buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage lender, today launched its new limited company buy-to-let mortgage product, specifically geared towards landlords trading through special purpose vehicles (SPVs). This new move places BM...
Real Client Story: “I Thought I Couldn’t Buy a Home Because I’m Self-Employed”
There are actually quite a number of myths out there in the mortgage world, and especially with self-employed borrowers. Plenty of people think they're at a disadvantage when applying for a mortgage just because they don't have a standard 9-to-5 income. Today, we're...
Can You Get a Mortgage on a Flat Above a Shop?
Thinking of buying a flat above a shop? You're not alone. Such properties are traditionally lower in price and central to town, making them a good choice for first-time buyers, young professionals, and property investors. But there is one nagging query: Can you obtain...
Do You Need Life Insurance for a Mortgage?
Most people applying for a mortgage are only interested in deposits, interest charges, and lender conditions. But one of the more common questions is: Do you need life insurance to get a mortgage? The response is no, life insurance is not a legal requirement, but...
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