Mortgage News, Insights & Advice
All the latest UK mortgage news, insights and advice from the world of mortgage lending and Oportfolio
Why Are Mortgage Rates Going Up in the UK If the Base Rate Hasn’t Changed?
Why are mortgage rates going up in the UK even though the base rate hasn’t changed? This guide explains how swap rates, inflation expectations, and lender pricing affect mortgage rates, and what it means if you’re buying or remortgaging in 2026.
UK Mortgage Market Update – 23 March 2026
UK Mortgage Market Update – 23 March 2026 The UK mortgage market saw some important developments this week as the Bank of England held interest rates, lenders adjusted pricing, and housing market activity remained steady. Here’s what happened this week and what it...
What Is A Gifted Deposit & Do You Have To Declare It?
When purchasing a property, securing a sufficient deposit is one of the most significant financial hurdles you’ll encounter. Saving a large enough deposit, especially when you are having to pay rent and bills at the same time. Can be very difficult. For many, this...
4 good reasons to move house now
There’s no doubt that lockdown has been a time of great stress and worry for many people as fears over finances, job security and, most important of all, the health of loved ones added up to create the most uncertain of times in recent memory. There is no doubt, too,...
What does the stamp duty holiday mean for you?
Last Wednesday (July 8th 2020) the Chancellor the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a sweeping change to the rules around Stamp Duty – or Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to give it its full title. When the property sector was reopened in May, there were fears that the...
What is the real cost of moving house?
So the housing sector has reopened after seven weeks of lockdown and maybe the time spent in close proximity to your family has exposed the shortcomings in your current home. Or perhaps you’d been drawing up plans to move to somewhere new before the coronavirus struck...
Financial Protection: Getting The Right Advice
As we enter the sixth week of lockdown, it’s not surprising that many people have spent much of the time in isolation from the rest of the world thinking about their health, financial security and the ways in which they can best protect themselves in the future. From...
Can I improve my chances of getting the mortgage I want?
Any veteran property owner who’s been through the process of applying for a mortgage in the last few years will tell you that there are a lot more hoops to jump through these days than there used to be before 2008. Although lenders have become more competitive in the...
5 things you need to know when buying a new home
Moving home – or buying a new home – can be a really exciting time, but it can also seem a bit overwhelming, even if it’s not your first rodeo in the property market. According to the lifestyle magazine House Beautiful, studies published last year suggest the average...
What do I need for my mortgage application?
Many people find the prospect of a mortgage application to be a source of stress, and although that’s understandable because a dream move is often riding on a successful outcome, it doesn’t necessarily need to be the anxious time that people expect. There are two key...
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 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...
Moving home? Get ahead of the game to get the best deal
Nothing in life stays the same. The plans we make for today and tomorrow can change over time and new plans will need to be made. That’s certainly true when it comes to buying houses. There are all sorts of reasons for moving. It may be that you originally bought the...
Mortgage planning to save you money
We often talk and write about the importance of making sure you start to plan early when it comes to managing your mortgage to save you money. Although the stricter regulatory environment that’s evolved since the economic crisis began in 2008 has resulted in much...
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