Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio

Are HSBC Mortgage Rates Going Down In 2025?
In a very welcome introductory message for the new year, HSBC has updated its Energy Efficient Homes Cashback Mortgage (EEHC) offerings, increased cashback availability and reduced mortgage rates across its range. HSBC mortgage rates, as well as every other lender's...

UK House Prices End 2024 On A High According To Nationwide
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, the latest Nationwide House Price Index has given us as a mortgage broker, plenty to reflect on regarding the resilience of the UK housing market in 2024. According to the report from Nationwide, against the backdrop of rising...

UK Finance Predicts Bright Future For Mortgages In 2025
The UK mortgage market is set to enjoy a resurgence in 2025, that’s according to forecasts from UK Finance, as mortgage lending is predicted to rise by an impressive 11% to reach £260 billion next year! This growth in mortgages in 2025 is expected to be driven by a...
Deposit – What will I need?
Deposit. Probably the most common word you hear during the house buying process and, perhaps the one that makes people the most apprehensive. With any property purchase, unless you are lucky enough to buy in cash, you will need some form of property finance loan such as a mortgage. And, with any kind of mortgage, you will normally need to contribute some of your own funds towards the purchase.
Halifax reports record number of first-time buyers
2021 was the most first-time buyer saturated year in at least 10 years according to Halifax intermediaries coming off the back of a year of pandemic uncertainty.
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.
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