Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Virgin Money Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%
Virgin Money mortgage rates have tumbled to below 4% this week! A very welcome rate reduction came from the money lending arm of Richard Branson’s Virgin empire. This rate reduction is just one of many from lenders dropping their rates as economic stability returns to...
Guide Price vs Asking Price
So you are ready to purchase a new home. It could be the first house or flat that you have ever bought. It could be your next family home with that extra bit of space. Or it could be a property that you are investing money in and plan on letting out as a buy-to-let....
Remortgage For Home Improvements
Your home is more than just a place to live; it’s one of your biggest financial assets. Property values are rising after a slight slump over the last 12 months, and your mortgage balance obviously decreases over time, meaning that you may actually find yourself...
Credit score – Does it really make a difference?
Perhaps the oldest question in the book of mortgages, do I need a good credit score to get one? For years people have avoided getting a mortgage because of their ‘less than perfect’ credit score and hundreds of thousands of people have missed out on some perfect properties due to black and white mortgage lenders and inexperienced advisors.
Mansfield Building Society joins Primis network
The Nottinghamshire based building society, which has been managing its customers finances and lending money in the UK since 1869, has joined the lender panel of Primis meaning that Primis advisors and brokerages will now have access to The Mansfield’s range of residential and buy-to-let mortgage products.
Uninhabitable property gives buyers nightmares
Our clients owned a residential property that they would be selling to try and purchase their dream home. Unfortunately, the new property needed a major upheaval to make it liveable for the clients and their family.
Cladding on flat causes client to change his plans
Our client and his partner both owned separate flats and their intention was to sell both and use the joint equity to purchase one single property for them both to live in. Our client’s partner sold her property very easily however he was unable to sell his property due to it having cladding.
How generous are you parents?
With rent at an all-time high and independence being at the forefront of every young person’s mind, buying your first home can really make you feel like you have taken a huge leap in life and achieved something. But unfortunately, it’s not always as straight forward as saving a deposit and getting a mortgage.
Parents wanted to help their daughter buy her first house
Our clients wanted to help their daughter in any way they could to purchase her first property. Our clients owned their own residential property which meant they would be liable to a large stamp duty tax if they went on a standard mortgage with their daughter.
Couple dream of escaping to the countryside
Our clients had been living in London for several years and had toyed with the idea of moving away from the big smoke and raising their children in the countryside. However, a change in employment circumstances caused a big issue.
Marital Split and Credit Issues Case Study
Our client was splitting up with his partner and wanted to do a buy to let remortgage on their shared property to release equity and buy his ex-partner out. The fairly straight forward remortgages plans were thrown in to disarray when an unexpected credit issue appeared on the clients file.
Bite sized news: New hope for new build purchasers
This week another positive post-covid lender update has been revealed as Accord Mortgages announced that they will be increasing their maximum mortgage loan to values.
Is the mortgage market set for a slump in 2022?
2021 saw an astronomical increase in properties going on the market and new buyers looking for mortgages. However, figures so far have already suggested that this is falling fast already in the first 10 days of 2022 and is due to fall even further as the months and years go on.
Brothers Buy House Together Case Study
Our clients were brother who were both looking to purchase their first residential properties. After doing some of their own research they realised that unfortunately they would both struggle to purchase a property on their own so decided that they would look at buying together.
Non-UK National Case Study
Our client approached Oportfolio for help them to secure a mortgage after struggling to find one on their own.
Originally from a country outside of the UK, they were very nervous and cautious after receiving conflicting information from friends, family, and the internet about how to secure a UK mortgage.
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