Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Can You Get a Mortgage on a Flat Above a Shop?
Can you get a mortgage on a flat above a shop? Find out what lenders consider, including the business below, your deposit, access, lease, mortgage valuation and future resaleability.
Do You Need Life Insurance for a Mortgage?
Do you need life insurance for a mortgage in the UK? Discover whether it’s compulsory, if you can get a mortgage without it, and which type of life insurance could help protect your home and family.
UK Mortgage Market Update – 1st of September 2026
UK house prices rose 1.6% annually in August while mortgage approvals fell to their lowest level since January 2024. We look at the latest mortgage rates, lender changes and what they mean for borrowers.
How Expensive Is a Mortgage? A Full Guide to UK Mortgage Costs
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...
TMW Cuts Mortgage Affordability Stress Rates to Help Landlords
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...
UK Mortgage Rates Fall Slightly in June, but Pace Slows
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...
Halifax Mortgage Income Criteria Update Boosts Affordability
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...
Santander Fixed Rate Mortgage Increase: Act Now
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...
Sole Trader Mortgage Myths Stop Applications In Their Tracks
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%...
Mortgage Rates Are Falling. But Could I Borrow More Too?
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....
NatWest Unveils Changes to Mortgages For First-Time Buyers
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...
In Conversation With Isaac Kikabi From BM Solutions
With over a decade of experience across retail and commercial banking, Isaac Kikabi made a strategic move into the mortgage sector three years ago, a transition driven by a deep personal interest in housing and its role in social and economic mobility. Now serving as...
How to Use Four Incomes on One Mortgage in the UK
Since the housing market is still difficult for most, an additional avenue of opportunity has opened up for purchasers who require added assistance: using up to four incomes on a single mortgage application. Due to Family Building Society's revised Joint Borrower Sole...
Buckinghamshire Building Society Launches Deposit Lite Mortgage for First-Time Buyers
If you’re a first-time buyer in the UK wondering how to get a mortgage without a deposit, you’re not alone. With house prices still high and rents eating into savings, saving for a deposit is one of the biggest challenges facing those trying to get on the property...
HSBC Mortgage Rate Cuts Announced With New Sub-4% Deals
HSBC UK has announced widespread cuts to its mortgage rates, with reductions of up to 0.24% across its residential, buy-to-let, and international mortgage rates products. The new HSBC mortgage rate cuts offer a surge of sub-4% mortgage offers onto the market, with...
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