Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
HSBC Maximum Mortgage Lending Limits Increase
HSBC has today announced an increase in its maximum loan-to-value (LTV) lending limits for residential mortgages. The changes, effective from today, apply to all new-build properties and flats, including non-new-build flats, across the UK. In this news article I will...
What Is A Gifted Deposit & Do You Have To Declare It?
When purchasing a property, securing a sufficient deposit is one of the most significant financial hurdles you’ll encounter. Saving a large enough deposit, especially when you are having to pay rent and bills at the same time. Can be very difficult. For many, this...
Halifax Expands Foreign Income Mortgage Criteria
Halifax has announced a new exciting change to its mortgage application criteria, that is due to take effect on the 12th of August 2024. In a message to all mortgage brokers this morning, Halifax announced that they will now accept foreign income mortgage...
Buy Now And Be In Your New Home For Christmas!
Yes...we've said it. The C word. Christmas! In most circumstances, Monday the 3rd of October would be WAY to early to start talking about Christmas however when it comes to mortgages and property you can never be too early. Christmas is 83 days away or just under 12...
Lenders Return To Market With Higher Rates
After the mass lender exodus last week due to the proposed tax cuts, mortgage lenders have thankfully started returning to the market. But with higher rates as expected. When will rates go down again? Who knows. But as mortgage advisors we are very happy that...
Government Backtracks On 45p Tax Cut
Despite the chancellor and Liz Truss's new conservative government announcing their mini budget last week, they have already been forced to go back on their word due to a massive backlash from the public and financial institutions. The major issue in the budget...
What Is The Nationwide Helping Hand Mortgage?
As a first time buyer, it may seem like the whole property market is against you at times. Especially because of recent economic events and the frenzy the lenders seem to have gone through over the last few days. But thankfully the banks seem to have calmed down a bit...
Can Lenders Cancel My Mortgage Application?
As a direct result of the mini budget announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng a few days ago, the mortgage world has been thrown into a state of panic to put it lightly. Despite there not actually being any reason to panic at the moment,...
The Importance Of Insurance – Real Life Stories
As financial advisors, we at Oportfolio make it our mission to ensure that all of our clients receive the best possible mortgage and protection advice that not only benefits them but benefits their family and loved ones too. Getting adequate life insurance, critical...
Fewer Mortgage Products Means Less Options
A drastic drop in mortgage products on the market has encourage an influx in mortgage searches according to mortgage fintech website Twenty7tec. More and more mortgage products have rapidly left the market over the last few days, weeks, and months as a result of...
What Is Competent Adviser Status (CAS)?
*Please note that we are not currently hiring any mortgage advisors or providing any training Today, people need mortgage advisers and financial advisers in general, more than ever. The mortgage market is a bit of a mine field at the moment, to put it lightly. And to...
Surge In Long Remortgage Deals Identified
A recent investigation by Comparethemarket has found that a third of homeowners who are due to remortgage at the end of their fixed deal would want a long term fixed remortgage deal to combat the rising cost of living. The study shows that 32% of existing mortgage...
Virgin Money and Skipton Pull New Mortgages
Mortgage lenders Virgin Money and Skipton for intermediaries have pulled new mortgage deals from their lending portfolios as the financial market goes into turmoil. Well known mortgage lenders Virgin Money and Skipton have announced that they are temporarily...
Could There Be An Emergency Base Rate Rise?
Could we see an emergency base rate rise imposed on us by the Bank of England? Liz Truss's new Conservative government and her recently appointed Chancellor's mini budget released at the end of last week has caused the economy to go into a state of panic and now the...
Fees For Buying A Property. Are They Worth It?
Something that is often overlooked when purchasing a property by many are the fees that can be associated with it. The majority of people who buy a house or an apartment need a mortgage and the majority of people who need a mortgage will need insurance. But,...
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