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

First-Time Buyer Age in the UK Rises To 33 New Research Reveals
The number of first-time buyers in the UK saw a significant increase in 2024, with 341,068 people stepping onto the property ladder. This marks a 19% rise compared to 2023, according to the latest research from Halifax. First-time buyers made up 54% of all home...

Santander and Barclays Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%
Well Ladies and Gentlemen…it has finally happened! The UK mortgage market has taken an exciting turn as two major lenders, Santander and Barclays, introduce mortgage products with interest rates below 4%! This is something that we have all been waiting for as rates...

NatWest Mortgages Announce Significant Rate Reductions
NatWest mortgages have this morning unveiled a series of rate reductions across their mortgage product offerings, set to take effect from the 12th of February 2025. The new changes are specifically for new business rates, existing customer deals, and additional...
What do I do if I’ve had a mortgage declined?
Top 5 Tips If Your Mortgage is Declined It’s often said that buying a house can be one of the biggest sources of stress you can have in life, which probably explains why a recent MoneyWise report suggests a quarter of all borrowers find the mortgage application...
Award-winning mortgage advice in London
It’s always lovely when the values you promote as a business are recognised publicly, so there was open delight at Oportfolio when the company’s founder, Oliver Whitehead, was named Best Overall Adviser at the recent Primis award ceremony. It was Oliver’s third year...
Self-employed and need a mortgage? It’s a numbers game.
Is it harder to get a mortgage when you’re self-employed? It’s a question we get asked quite a lot and the most simple answer is that it’s not necessarily more difficult, but the way in which affordability is assessed by prospective lenders is inevitably a bit...
Tips for a stress-free moving day
So, you’ve done it. You’ve taken the plunge, found your dream house, sorted the mortgage (hopefully through us!), found a buyer for your own property and contracts have been exchanged. All that’s left now is to sit back, put your feet up and wait for moving day. Well,...
In a Conservation Area and want to extend? Read this.
When it comes to making plans for the future, one option that many homeowners consider is looking for additional borrowing from their existing lender or, if the circumstances are right, re-mortgaging in order to raise the money needed for a home extension. According...
Brexit and your mortgage
With Theresa May having emerged from her Brussels trip with unanimous backing for her plan for Britain’s exit from the European Union (brexit) and prepares for tomorrow’s Parliamentary vote on it (assuming continued Cabinet concerns about the likelihood of a Commons...
Selling your house through interior design
Our occasional series highlighting the work of businesses Oportfolio works with continues with a look at the impact interior design can have on the sale of your current home and the transformation of your new one. Rush Interiors is run by leading designer, Rushim...
The secret weapon for successful relocation
Our occasional series highlighting the work of businesses Oportfolio works with continues with a look at City To Country relocation – a property relocation service with a difference, run by a man who knows a thing or two about the advantages and disadvantages of city...
When your home has security, you will also be secure
For almost all of us, a house is the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy. Not only is it the centre of family life and a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s also a financial asset that, in all likelihood, you expect to grow in value. With all...
Can a mortgage advisor based in Kensington help you?
Working with a professional mortgage broker with experience in Kensington that has spent years building strong links with various lenders can help people looking to move to get the most suitable mortgage deal for their needs. This includes those who are looking to...
Speak To A Mortgage Expert In Clapham
There’s little more satisfying than working alongside the younger generation, providing mortgage advice to first-time buyers and those with little-to-no experience of the property market to help them take the right steps financially to finally get on the property...
Mortgage advisor in Chelsea can help ‘empty nesters’
If you’re part of the older generation and are looking to move on to somewhere where you can retire in peace, it makes sense to partner with an experienced, professional mortgage advisor to help you plan your next move in Chelsea. They’re often referred to as ‘empty...
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