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

Metro Reduces UK Buy-To-Let Mortgage Rates As TSB Hikes Them
October has truly been the month for rate instability in my opinion. None of us wanted rates to fluctuate as much as they have over the last month or so, and I don’t think that I was the only one who thought that we might at least enjoy some stability until the end of...

Barclays Introduces New Maximum Age For Mortgage Applicants
This morning, Barclays Mortgages has announced a new set of age-related criteria for its residential mortgage offerings, hoping to simplifying the mortgage application process for older borrowers. The changes, establish new guidelines for maximum age limits,...

Energy Efficiency Report Shows Opportunities and Challenges for Buy-to-Let Investors
Today, The Mortgage Works (TMW) Nationwide Building Society’s buy-to-let lending only arm released their energy efficiency report for the private buy-to-let rental sector. The latest report from The Mortgage Works explores the energy efficiency of the UK's private...
Is it time to review your personal finances?
The ongoing coronavirus crisis continues to put pressure on family income as the true impact of the Government’s social distancing strategy is felt around the UK. There are a number of schemes that have been launched to help businesses, those in full-time employment...
Are you making these common life insurance mistakes?
One of the key things we need to do when we take on a big financial commitment like a mortgage is to make plans for a time when you or your family might not be able to meet the repayments. Usually, that means taking out one or more of three different insurance...
Start making plans now to move in 2020
As we wave farewell to a year that has, by all sorts of measures, been pretty momentous, and usher in the third decade of the millennia, it’s time to start thinking about that house move in 2020 you’ve been planning. One of the mistakes people can make when it comes...
Can I force my mortgage lender to give me a better deal?
There has been a lot of change in the mortgage market over the last decade, with tighter controls over lending criteria, more scrutiny around affordability and interest rates tumbling to record lows. But one question we get asked a lot is: can I force my mortgage...
What type of life insurance do I need?
If you’re one of the 8.5 million British adults with a family who should have a life insurance policy but don’t, then now is the right time to be looking at your options. Life insurance should be a vital part of your financial planning. Chosen well, it gives you and...
What does the election mean for my mortgage?
One of the most common concerns for any homeowner at any given time is likely to be what happens to interest rates. It’s an issue that has come into sharper focus since the EU referendum was held 41 months ago. In a week’s time, the UK will go to the polls for the...
Do I need life insurance?
We all know that life can be expensive and most of us are busy trying to cut our costs rather than increase them, but there’s one additional expense that you should seriously consider adding to your monthly outgoings. If you have a family or there are others who...
What Does A Falling Housing Market Mean?
If recent media reports are to be believed, the ongoing political uncertainty is having a significant impact on the London housing market. According to the latest price index from estate agency portal Right Move, the impasse on Brexit has shaved £13,000 off the...
My fixed mortgage deal is ending. What should I do?
There are a few times every year when a letter from one of your insurance providers will drop through your door to notify you that your fixed mortgage deal is ending and notifying you of your new premium for the coming year. The chances that these letters will...
How can I help my children get onto the housing ladder?
As parents, we always want to use our experience, knowledge and resources to help our children to succeed in life – and that doesn’t change whether they’re 5 or 25. A lot of the time, it’s easy to provide help that makes a difference, whether it’s in teaching life...
Are you getting the best finance advice for your needs?
The world we live in is increasingly on-demand and technology has made it possible for us as consumers to easily get what we need from multiple sources. Personal finance advice and products are no different. But is that the best way to make important financial...
Has Brexit Changed The Immediate Future Of Property?
It’s been a few months since I last wrote about Brexit and its likely impact on interest rates, the mortgage sector and the residential property market. That was not long after the deadline for the UK to leave the EU was extended to the end of October. So, now that...
We're Here to Help
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.