FEATURED NEWS
Hampshire Trust Bank increases buy-to-let and HMO LTV and max loan value
19th April 2018
Hampshire Trust Bank has increased the loan-to-value ratio on its buy-to-let and house in multiple occupation (HMO) 5-year fixed rate to 75% and increased the maximum loan size to £5m.
Complete FS posts three day bridging completion record
April 19, 2018
Complete FS and Together have finished a bridging deal in three days from application to completion.
Key Retirement hires Lee Blackwell as director of PR
April 19, 2018
She was previously head of PR and media relations at the pensions and lifetime savings association, and before that head of PR at Partnership.
News
Shortgage of Scottish homes driving premiums up and selling times down
April 19, 2018
With only around 1000 homes listed for sale across Edinburgh, increased competition is driving premiums up and selling times down, Warners Solicitors and Estate Agents has found.
Ballymore won Developer of the Year award
April 19, 2018
Ballymore has been crowned Developer of the Year at the Property Week awards on Tuesday 17 April while London City Island won the Placemaking Award.
3.76 million complaints about financial services firms
April 19, 2018
Complaints about payment protection insurance (PPI) drove a 13% increase in the number of complaints made to financial services firms in the second half of 2017, the FCA found.
John Heron: Buy-to-let changes have played to the strengths of specialist lenders
April 19, 2018
Buy-to-let changes including the stamp duty surcharge for landlords, mortgage tax relief and stricter underwriting for portfolio landlords have all benefited specialist lenders like Paragon, its managing director John Heron has declared.
Family Building Society lowers rates
April 18, 2018
A number have been cut by 0.20%, including its 2-year fix at 2.49%, 3-year fix at 2.79%, 5-year fix at 2.99% with a £1,499 fee and 5-year fix at 3.19% with a £249 fee.
Popular barriers to equity release are based on misconceptions
April 18, 2018
Many of the most cited barriers to using equity release products, such as to remain in control of a property and to be able to pass it on as inheritance are based on misconceptions, Retirement Advantage has claimed after carrying out a survey.
MortgageForce enjoys record six months
April 18, 2018
The company has committed to growing its business in H2, especially in London where it has secured additional space at its headquarters next to the Bank Of England.
Virgin Money loosens buy-to-let criteria
April 18, 2018
The lender will now consider personal income to cover a shortfall in rent between 100% and 145% of the mortgage payment.
Blogs
The Beast from the East and beyond: protecting your clients from flooding
Brokers should also be using seasonal shifts in the weather as a prime opportunity to check their clients are appropriately covered, should they be affected by flooding.
Does stretching out mortgage terms set up problems?
Borrowers with extended terms are far more likely to find themselves with borrowing which extends into retirement
Open all hours – how to lead customers to your shop door
In my previous blog, I’ve talked about the reasons why I wanted to run my own mortgage and protection business and the initial hurdles to be overcome when sinking the foundations.
Why always me?
Finally this week, plans for the regulation of estate agents have been proposed and these have been broadly welcomed by the sector and general public.
Is another two years of Help to Buy good news?
In a property-owning democracy – to which, despite the ups and downs of the past few decades, most people in the UK still aspire – anything which allows young people to achieve the dream of their own space has to be unreservedly welcomed.
Buy-to-let News
John Heron: Buy-to-let changes have played to the strengths of specialist lenders
April 19, 2018
Buy-to-let changes including the stamp duty surcharge for landlords, mortgage tax relief and stricter underwriting for portfolio landlords have all benefited specialist lenders like Paragon, its managing director John Heron has declared.
Virgin Money loosens buy-to-let criteria
April 18, 2018
The lender will now consider personal income to cover a shortfall in rent between 100% and 145% of the mortgage payment.
Residential Mortgage News
Shortgage of Scottish homes driving premiums up and selling times down
April 19, 2018
With only around 1000 homes listed for sale across Edinburgh, increased competition is driving premiums up and selling times down, Warners Solicitors and Estate Agents has found.
Ballymore won Developer of the Year award
April 19, 2018
Ballymore has been crowned Developer of the Year at the Property Week awards on Tuesday 17 April while London City Island won the Placemaking Award.