Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
NatWest Set To Reduce New Build Deposit Contribution
NatWest has announced a significant change to its mortgage lending criteria, which is poised to make a substantial impact on the new build property market. The high street bank has increased its loan-to-value (LTV) ratios for new build homes, a move that will enable...
What Is Stamp Duty For First-Time Buyers?
Purchasing a property is going to be expensive. Unfortunately there is no sugar coating it! Most homebuyers understand that there will be associated costs with purchasing a property. But many don’t know what these costs are, or what they mean. One significant cost...
Barclays Mortgage Rates Cut
Finally, some news that we have all almost literally been holding our breaths for! Barclays Bank has announced reductions in its mortgage rates, becoming the first of the 'Big 6' mortgage lenders to do so after the Bank of England hit its inflation target of 2%. The...
Interest Rates – 6 September 2021
This weekend many lenders reduced their interest rates. This is not just in relation to those with large deposits but for a huge range of products and clients.
Here’s why you need to review your mortgage right now
At the start of 2018 the Bank of England was warning that interest rates would almost certainly have to rise in order to keep pace with inflation and the Government’s economic targets. By August of that year, the threat of rising rates had receded and in the time...
Is your world properly protected?
There are some things that most of us would prefer not to think about such as getting protected. That’s why the consumer watchdog Which? estimates that only 54% of people have a Will. It probably also explains why, according to a recent report for a leading insurance...
5 first-time buyer mistakes to avoid
For most people, the process of buying a first home stirs up a whirlwind of emotions. It’s exciting, of course – getting on the housing ladder is a significant milestone in life – but it can also be stressful, overwhelming and exhausting, especially if you don’t have...
What is a mortgage payment holiday?
What is a mortgage payment holiday? A mortgage holiday is an arranged break from paying your monthly mortgage payment. Whether that is capital and interest or purely interest only. Mortgage holidays are temporary and should only be taken in unavoidable and serious...
How Will Rising House Prices Affect Me?
We’re living through strange times in the housing market where open an house allows a full afternoon of ten-minute viewings, resulting in immediate offers being put in at asking price – or above. Long gone are the days when the buyer holds the power and a lower...
Feedback from satisfied Oportfolio team customers
Here’s a selection of independent testimonials written by clients who have used Oportfolio based on referrals from others or who would happily recommend us to members of their personal network. “We were recommended Oportfolio through a friend and are very happy that...
‘The Gothic House’ best mortgage case study
Gus and Selena were referred to us by James Penny of Penny & Sinclair Estate Agents in Oxford who has regularly referred clients to us over several years. During our initial conversation with the couple, it was clear they had fallen head over heels for a period...
It’s never too late to take out life insurance
You’ve probably already got a lot of monthly outgoings, and no-one wants to add to that long list of standing orders – unless, of course, it’s a vital part of your financial future. Getting life insurance could help your loved ones pay for exactly those outgoings when...
Achieving Success In Life Is All In The Small Details
The devil, as the old saying goes, is in the detail. This is especially true when it comes to your mortgage and personal income protection needs and I’m not just talking here about whether you’ve got the right products, but also the process of identifying and then...
How Do I Get The Best Mortgages?
A little like finding the perfect house, matching mortgage requirements to the right lender is a very individual and delicate process that requires knowledge and expertise to ensure it’s a complete fit for your long-term requirements. It’s not always easy to know what...
Going the extra mile to secure your home and your world
https://player.vimeo.com/video/547108910?app_id=122963 In setting up Oportfolio our goal was always to create a company that would go above and beyond, producing the highest standards of support and service for our clients looking to buy a home. We’re extraordinarily...
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If you have any questions about UK mortgage news or anything you’ve read then please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
