Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
What Is A Mortgage Holiday?
What Is a Mortgage Holiday? A mortgage holiday, also known as a mortgage payment holiday, is a temporary break from making your regular monthly mortgage payments. It’s an arrangement made with your lender that allows you to pause your repayments for a short, agreed...
The Truth About “5x Income” Mortgages – What Banks Don’t Tell You
It sounds simple enough, “We lend up to 5x your income.” But as Santander’s latest market update made clear, these catchy marketing lines can be misleading. In this bite sized blog, we will explore larger income multiple borrowing and what it actually means to people...
It Now Takes 11 Years to Save for a Deposit
In 1974, the average first-time buyer could save a property deposit in just three months. Today, that same goal takes more than 11 years. Le that sink in. Santander’s figures from their latest market update starkly illustrate the affordability crisis facing first-time...
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...
Buying a Property From Your Landlord
Living in a property for years and making it your own, can often make it very difficult for tenants to part with it. For some lucky first-time buyers, the opportunity might arise for them to actually purchase their rental property from their landlord. For many...
Interest-Only Mortgage Demand Falls According To FCA
In a notable shift within the mortgage market, demand for interest-only mortgages has plummeted by over half over the last eight years, dropping below the one million mark, according to data released by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA's recent report...
TMW Increases Stress Test Rate for Portfolio Landlords
In another tough blow to UK landlords, The Mortgage Works (TMW) has announced an adjustment to its stress rate for buy-to-let (BTL) portfolio landlords. For buy-to-let mortgage applications, a lender will normally stress test the interest of the loan and the projected...
UK’s Real GDP Shows Growth in Q2 of 2023
In a much anticipated update, it seems that the United Kingdom's economic landscape has show signs of recovery as the real gross domestic product (GDP) experienced a small growth of 0.2% in the second quarter of 2023, spanning from April 2023 to June 2023 according to...
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