Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio

What Do Mortgage Brokers Actually Do?
When buying a home or remortgaging, you will be told to "speak with a mortgage broker", but what do they do and how can they help? At Oportfolio, our work as mortgage brokers is to take a complex process and make it simple and give you the best chance of mortgage...

TSB Increases Maximum Loan-to-Income Ratio for Self-Employed
TSB Bank has announced a significant change to its mortgage lending criteria, increasing the maximum loan-to-income (LTI) multiple for self-employed applicants. From today, self-employed individuals seeking a mortgage may be eligible to borrow up to 5.5 times their...

Best London Neighbourhoods for First-Time Buyers in 2025
Buying your first home in London can be an exhilarating but daunting process. With house prices varying so wildly across the capital, it's important to find a location that balances affordability, transport links, facilities, and growth potential just right. Day in,...
What Is The Difference Between Hard and Soft Footprint Credit Checks?
When it comes to getting a mortgage, understanding the nuances of credit checks is paramount for borrowers seeking new home finance. Recent developments from Barclays Bank have brought significant changes to the credit checking process for mortgage applicants. In this...
Virgin Money Mortgages Announces Rate Reductions
Virgin Money Mortgages, one of the more prominent high street lenders, has recently made noteworthy changes to its residential and landlord exclusive mortgage products. These changes, which include reductions of up to 0.26%, are aimed at providing more attractive...
Nationwide Remortgages
In today's ever-changing mortgage market, securing the best remortgage deal to suit your needs can be a daunting task. However, Nationwide Building Society offers a range of attractive remortgage options and criteria that can help you make the most of your property...
Changes for Large Portfolio Landlords: The Mortgage Works
In a move aimed at benefiting large portfolio landlords, The Mortgage Works (TMW), Nationwide Building Societies buy-to-let arm, has announced some noteworthy updates to its existing portfolio affordability assessment criteria, effective from the 17th of October 2023....
Significant Changes to Halifax Self-Employed Mortgage Criteria
Halifax, one of the UK's big six mortgage providers, has announced a significant change in its self-employed mortgage criteria, which will come into effect from tomorrow (Tuesday the 17th of October 2023). The new criteria will make significant changes to...
TSB’s New Criteria Improves Borrowing Mortgages Into Retirement
In a significant announcement this morning, TSB has unveiled some new lending criteria, aimed at helping individuals secure mortgages into retirement. The new policy reflects the shifting dynamics of the housing market and the growing demand from people looking to...
Nationwide’s House Price Index: A Weak September 2023
The UK housing market continues to grapple with uncertainties and challenges, as Nationwide's recently released House Price Index for September 2023 reveals. While house prices remained relatively unchanged over the month, there is a year-on-year decrease of 5.3%,...
Coventry Building Society’s New 90% Mortgages
In mortgage news today, Coventry Building Society has taken a significant step to enhance the accessibility of homeownership in the UK. The lender has recently introduced fresh 2-year and 3-year fixed-rate mortgage options, catering to those seeking a 90% mortgages...
New Virgin Money Remortgage Products: Why You Need a Mortgage Advisor
Virgin Money has recently introduced a host of new residential loan products and reduced interest rates across a selection of its offerings. These changes have sparked interest among homeowners looking to remortgage with Virgin Money. However, navigating the...
Mortgage Rates Drop, Product Choices Rise: Why You Need a Mortgage Broker
In recent weeks and months, the mortgage market in the UK has witnessed a significant shift, as fixed-rate mortgages have seen notable reductions, making homeownership more affordable (if only marginally) for many. According to the latest Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends...
Why Oportfolio’s Contract with L&G is Your Best Bet for Insurance
In the ever-evolving world of insurance, finding the right policy to protect your future can be a daunting task. With countless options and intricate details to consider, seeking guidance from experts is essential. This is where Oportfolio, your trusted financial...
Economic Market Update From The Mortgage Lender
In the latest economic market update from The Mortgage Lender, the Bank of England's stance on interest rates and the implications of higher oil prices take centre stage. While the Bank may have reached a pause in its rate hikes, the road to economic stability remains...
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