Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Barclays Increases Maximum Loan-to-Income to 6x
Barclays has announced a major update to its affordability policy, increasing its maximum residential loan-to-income (LTI) multiple from 5.5x to 6x. This change is significant for borrowers who need a higher income stretch to secure the mortgage they want, especially...
What Is A Mortgage Holiday?
What Is a Mortgage Holiday? A mortgage holiday, also known as a mortgage payment holiday, is a temporary break from making your regular monthly mortgage payments. It’s an arrangement made with your lender that allows you to pause your repayments for a short, agreed...
The Truth About “5x Income” Mortgages – What Banks Don’t Tell You
It sounds simple enough, “We lend up to 5x your income.” But as Santander’s latest market update made clear, these catchy marketing lines can be misleading. In this bite sized blog, we will explore larger income multiple borrowing and what it actually means to people...
Mortgages For Low Credit Scores Boosted By Chorley BS
Chorley building society have announced that they will be making changes to their products which offer mortgages for low credit scores. Chorely building society currently offers a range of products called the ‘credit renew range’ which are designed specifically for...
Energy Efficient Home Mortgages From BM Solutions
Specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Birmingham Midshires (BM Solutions), part of the Lloyds Banking Group, have today sent out word to registered mortgage brokers that they will be introducing new products for energy efficient home mortgages. In a conscious...
Bank Of Ireland Mortgage Rates Rise
In suit with a lot of other mortgage lenders, Bank Of Ireland have today announced that they are withdrawing rates on residential products and replacing them with new higher rates. This increase of Bank Of Ireland mortgage rates follows a long line of mortgage lenders...
Mortgage Rates Reduced By Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have announced that they will be reducing their residential mortgage rates on selected products. A welcome change from other lenders hiking their rates up. The intermediary only lender said the following in a message to all registered brokers: We’re...
Lenders Strict On Debts Being Paid – Case Study
Key facts: Client looking to sell current property that they have owned for several years to purchase a larger family home Clients had a good amount of equity in their property so would have some spare cash left over once it was sold The clients had a few credit cards...
Housing Market Highlights From Rightmove
Over the last few days, UK property advertisement portal Rightmove have released figures and information that are a result of careful analysis of the property market this year. Some of the highlights they have commented on so far are house prices hitting a 6-month...
Santander Avoids Raising Mortgage Rates
Santander for intermediaries have sent out emails to all registered mortgage intermediaries today announcing that they will be freezing their current mortgage product rates and they will avoid raising mortgage rates for at least one month. In comparison, Nationwide...
Halifax Mortgage Rate Rise On The Way
Halifax have announced that as of the 18th of July (this coming Monday) they will be raising interest rates...again…on selected 2-year and 10-year products. They have said that the rises could be as much as 0.32%. Here are the details we know about the new Halifax...
Dare To Hope – Wildlife Photographer Harry Skeggs
Harry Skeggs - Award Winning Wildlife Photographer When it comes to wildlife photography, Harry Skeggs is the absolute authority. Putney based photographer and friend to Oportfolio Harry is world renowned for his unbelievable snaps of the worlds rarest and most...
Purchasing A Property From Family – Case Study
Key facts: Our client was a first time buyer looking to find a property in his budget and wouldn't use up his entire life savings. He had been looking around for a property but wasn't having much luck Coincidentally, his parents were also looking to sell a rental...
Act Now To Stop Mortgage Rate Rises
Money information website Moneyfacts have revealed new data that shows 2 and 5-year mortgage product rates have increased in the sharpest month-on-month spike since 2007. Meaning that mortgages are getting more expensive and people who don't act now, may end up paying...
Coventry Building Society Reduces Buy-To-Let Mortgage Rates
In the midst of rising mortgage interest rates, Coventry Building Society have announced that they are REDUCING their Buy-To-Let mortgage rates through their intermediary platform. The mortgage broker only arm of Coventry building society are reducing buy-to-let...
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