Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
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...
Barclays Interest Only Mortgage Requirements Updated
Barclays has announced significant changes to its interest only mortgage requirements, introducing a new tiered equity system based on the location of the security property. This update, effective immediately, is designed to provide a more location-specific approach...
Moving back home to Putney
After spending the past few years north of the river, we have recently moved to bespoke new offices in Putney. Since 2009, Oportfolio have serviced clients in the local area and further afield but Putney has always played a key role in our story because it was where...
What is the best mortgage on the market?
What is the best mortgage on the market? You’re not alone in wanting to know the answer to this question – it’s one of the most-searched property-related questions on Google. Most mortgage searches start with comparison websites but while they can give you a useful...
The interior design story of our new offices
We have recently moved to new offices at St Georges Court in Putney. With the current trend for creating home offices, we thought it would be a good idea to share the story behind the design of our new home in the hope it may provide some inspiration to our clients...
Why Buying Is Still About Location, Location, Location
You may go into house hunting with an eye on what you can get per square meter or moving to where the biggest garden will be, but the old estate agent’s favourite phrase still rings so true when buying houses – it’s all about location, location, location! Even if...
How do I know if I can afford to move?
This article is aimed at you if you are considering if you can afford moving to a new house. Not just first-time buyers, not just those soon to retire… everyone. If nothing else, the pandemic has shown us that we can't predict the future. So, getting professional...
Bank of Mum & Dad Continues Supporting First-Time Buyers
Every year is a challenging year for first-time buyers, but 2020 really thwarted them as a collective. We don’t need to cover old ground – I think we’d all agree it was a figurative kick-in-the-teeth for many people who might have been hoping to get on the housing...
Am I eligible for the 95% mortgage scheme?
After a challenging year for first time buyers, and those with little deposit to put down, the launch this week of the government-backed 95% mortgage is welcomed by many. The scheme, announced in last month's budget statement, involves the government ‘guaranteeing’...
How much deposit do I need to purchase a property?
When looking to purchase a property one of the main questions people have is ‘how much deposit do I need?’. This does of course vary depending on what you are trying to achieve but it certainly has been a ‘hot topic’ since the new budget was announced this year with the mention of only a 5% deposit requirement for residential purchases. But all is not as simple as it seems.
Should I remortgage to make renovations?
Home renovations have recently become more than just a popular DIY activity, but more of an obsession, as we all try to improve the space in which we live. Being at home so much has lots of us revaluating our dwellings and wanting to make the best of not going abroad...
Santander offering five-times salary income multiple
Santander for Intermediaries is offering some of the most generous income multiples and the cheapest mortgage rates across the market.
The housing market one year on from the first lockdown
Exactly one year on from the start of the first lockdown of 2020, how has the housing market changed – and what does the future look like? Oportfolio’s founder, Oliver Whitehead, looks back on a year like no other. It seems incredible to think that it’s been a full...
Why women need to protect their finances
If the pandemic and its three lockdowns have taught us anything at all, it’s that no one ever quite knows what lies around the corner. All being well, the UK will start a cautious reversal of the current social distancing measures in the next few weeks. The Government...
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