Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
New Virgin Money Rules for Foreign National Mortgages
Virgin Money has unveiled a major overhaul of its foreign national mortgage lending policy, bringing more flexibility and higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratios to those who are not ILR or settled/pre-settled status holders. The move will help more foreign national clients...
Is It Really a Bad Time to Buy a Home? Here’s the Real Picture.
Should You Wait to Buy a Home in 2025? Let's Break It Down. We get it. Between headlines about rising interest rates, inflation, and housing market uncertainty, it’s easy to feel like buying a home right now might be a mistake. But is it really a bad time to buy? At...
Nationwide Cuts Income Thresholds for Helping Hand Mortgage UK
In a tremendous boost to first-time buyers, Nationwide Building Society has today announced a significant reduction in the minimum income levels for its Helping Hand mortgage scheme, making home ownership more accessible to thousands of individuals throughout the UK....
Second Home Mortgage Borrowing – Case Study
Key facts: Client looking to purchase a second home to use with family during summer holidays Property was 3 hours’ drive away Due to the rising cost of living, mortgage underwriters applied inflated and extra costs to the mortgage affordability. Because of these...
Are 50-Year Cross-Generation Mortgages On The Cards?
Struggling to get enough mortgage borrowing because of your age? 35-year mortgage term still too expensive per month for your budget? Would you consider taking 50-year cross-generation mortgages if it meant that you could get the perfect house? All it would mean is...
Net Mortgage Borrowing Up 76% According To BOE
In recently release figures, the Bank of England has announced that net mortgage borrowing increased by 76% in May 2022. What does this actually mean? Is it a positive sign or a false flag? According to the BOE, Net mortgage borrowing on houses purchased to live in...
What Is The PRIMIS Mortgage Network?
Who Are Oportfolio Mortgage Brokers? We are Oportfolio, a specialist broker providing professional advice and guidance on all types of mortgage and personal protection insurance products. We offer you tailored advice to support you wherever you are in your life...
Halifax Offers 5% Deposit Mortgages On New Builds
Halifax have sensationally announced today that they are lowering their minimum required deposit on new build properties from 10% to 5% throwing thousands of first-time buyers a lifeline. Changing their criteria to offer 5% deposit mortgages in the face of rising...
Accord Launch New Discounted SVR Mortgage Products
Intermediary accessible only lender Accord Mortgages have today announced that they are offering new discounted SVR mortgage products (Standard Variable Rate) across buy-to-let and residential mortgages. The lender, which is owned by Yorkshire Building Society, only...
The Best Putney Estate Agents
Southwest London really is perfect. We aren’t just saying this because our office is based in Putney and we’ve been based in southwest London for over 10 years, oh no. Living in Putney or the surrounding area is like getting the best of both worlds. You get to live in...
EWS1 Form Remortgage – Case Study
Key facts: Client came to us to do a residential remortgage on their flat. As part of the remortgage document requirements, the new mortgage lender asked for an EWS1 form to be provided to prove fire safety. The management company for the building hadn't arrange an...
Mortgage Rate Rises From TMW and Nationwide
Recently Nationwide building society and their buy-to-let arm The Mortgage Works (TMW) have been putting their rates up so much that they are no longer competitive in the mortgage market meaning that these rate rises are pushing these lenders down the list when...
Breaking News: Bank of England Raises Base Rate to 1.25%
Latest news coming out of the Bank of England says that they are raising the BoE base rate an extra 0.25% to 1.25% from the previous 1.00% which was only raised last month! In an attempt to tackle a potential risk of recession, the Bank of England has announced that...
The Best Running Spots In South West London
On the 10th of July 2022, our senior mortgage and protection advisor Jade Pinkerton is stepping out of her usual comfort zone and is going to be running the ASICS 10K across central London. She will be running to raise money in aid of Macmillan cancer support, a very...
Income Protection – Case Study
Our client has been working with Oportfolio in different capacities over the last two years. In 2020 she approached us to help with remortgaging her residential property which we completed for her and to help her secure some insurances as she did not have any in place at all. Something that is never advisable, especially when you have a large debt such as a mortgage.
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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.