Purplebricks founders stage return under Dunstone-backed deal

The founders of Purplebricks are set to return to the business in a surprise comeback and more than five years after stepping away from the company they built into one of the UK’s most prominent online estate agency...

Latest news

Average deposit now exceeds annual salary in most British housing markets

Homebuyers in more than six in 10 housing markets across Great Britain now need to save a deposit larger than the average annual salary,...

Hope Capital elevates senior leadership team to director level

Hope Capital Property Finance has strengthened its leadership structure by promoting its entire senior leadership team to director-level roles, as the lender marks its...

New platform aims to ease advisers’ compliance burden during client meetings

A new meeting platform designed for mortgage advisers has launched in the UK, aiming to reduce the administrative workload associated with compliance and client...

PEXA hires Julian Wells as UK head of communications

Digital property exchange platform PEXA has appointed Julian Wells as its new UK head of communications as the firm continues to expand its presence...

Market may be overreacting to conflict-driven rate fears

Financial markets could be overreacting in the early days of the conflict as they take a second rate cut off the table this year. The conflict in the Middle East and accompanying spike in energy prices means financial markets...

St. James’s Place passes 1,000 female adviser milestone ahead of International Women’s Day

St. James’s Place has revealed that more than 1,000 women are now working as financial advisers across its Partnership, marking a milestone announced ahead of International Women’s Day. The wealth management firm said the figure comes at a time...

The UK’s conveyancing conundrum explained

Why is conveyancing so slow in the UK? The average property transaction now takes between 14 and 20 weeks… and that is not taking into account any leasehold transactions with difficult Managing Agents, issues with title or lengthy...

The Newcastle reports strong 2025 results

Newcastle Building Society has reported a rise in profits and continued customer growth in its full-year results for 2025, highlighting the role of its expanding branch network and community-focused strategy. The Newcastle Building Society Group – which includes the...

PROFILE

Terry Blackburn on building a community for mortgage brokers

At 19, Terry Blackburn was knocking on doors trying to sell life insurance to strangers. He’d previously worked as a builder and candidly admits...

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Why landlords will continue to play a central role in meeting housing demand

This month’s Spring Statement may not have delivered dramatic housing announcements, but the data released alongside it paints a clear picture about the continued...

Debt awareness is as important for advisers as for clients

Debt Awareness Week, beginning on 16th March, provides a timely opportunity for reflection. The early months of the year have long been associated with...

‘Unresolved tension rarely solves itself’ – how to manage change under pressure

Change is part of building any business, but managing how people experience that change is often the real test of leadership. In fast growing...

The silent majority: what most financial services customers never tell you

If you work in financial services, you probably have a good handle on formal complaints. You know how many you get, how quickly they’re...

Building momentum is back, but flexible funding will be key to delivery

There are growing signs that development activity across England is beginning to gather momentum again. After a prolonged period of caution driven by higher...

ANALYSIS: Swaps surge and the market braces for impact

It’s been an interesting week so far. Sadly, we’ve had to cancel our BDM meetings, because if we’re being honest, everyone in the market...

Q&As

BUY-TO-LET

Family BS unveils two-year limited company BTL fix at 4.69%

The Family Building Society has introduced a new two-year fixed rate for limited company...

Limited company landlords pull away from individual investors, research finds

The private rented sector is becoming increasingly divided along structural lines, with landlords operating...

Limited company buy-to-let purchases hit record 43%

Limited company landlords accounted for a record 43% of mortgaged buy-to-let house purchases in...

Finova underpins Offa’s move into Sharia-compliant residential finance

Finova has supported the launch of Offa’s new Sharia-compliant Home Purchase Plan, extending the...

Mortgage lending jumps 16% in 2025

Mortgage lending climbed 16% in 2025 to its highest level since the pandemic as...

UK house prices steady as first-time buyers return

UK house prices edged higher in February as improving affordability and a rebound in...

Housing supply pressures underline the value of a balanced market

The latest figures from the Home Builders Federation make somewhat uncomfortable reading, particularly if...

Industry fundraiser launched after MFS staff go unpaid

Staff at Market Financial Solutions (MFS) were due to be paid on Friday 27...

MORTGAGE MINGLE PODCAST

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

FIRST-TIME BUYERS

Prenups move into the mainstream as younger couples seek financial clarity

Prenuptial agreements — long associated with celebrities and high net worth families — are entering the financial mainstream, according to new national research commissioned by the law firm Taylor Rose. The study of UK adults found that among those who are or have been married...

Santander’s higher LTV cuts see 98% first-time buyer deal below 5%

Santander UK will lower the rate on its recently launched My First Mortgage to...

Reeves backs building societies’ first-time buyer push

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has thrown her weight behind building societies’ campaign to convince aspiring...

Santander issues first offer under 98% LTV first-time buyer mortgage

Santander UK has confirmed that the first mortgage offer has been issued under its...

The Coventry cuts higher LTV fixed rates in first-time-buyer push

Coventry for intermediaries has reduced selected residential fixed rates, with changes focused on higher...

OPINION

The growth is there. Now we must close the gap

The latest UK Finance Later Life Lending Update for Q4 2025 should give every specialist adviser renewed confidence in the scale and resilience of...

Spring Statement 2026: Standing still on debt as risks mount

Yesterday, the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement. Given the backdrop of war in the...

Analysis: Market shock pushes fixed rates towards imminent rise

With the crisis in the Middle East showing no signs of abating any time...

Spring Statement must tackle planning, regeneration and skills

With many reports suggesting that next week’s Spring Statement will deliver little in the way of new policy and instead focus largely on updated economic forecasts, there is an even greater need for practical measures that genuinely support confidence in the housing market. If we...

Jonny Palmer: Taking on the world’s toughest foot race

On 3 April I’ll be attempting what is considered the toughest foot race on earth: Marathon Des Sables Legendary. When I type that into a...

DISTRIBUTION

Pivotal Growth founding director David Copland to retire

David Copland, business development director and a founding member of Pivotal Growth, is to...

Brightstar looks to Armed Forces leavers in drive to widen mortgage talent pool

Brightstar Group is piloting a new initiative aimed at bringing Service Leavers and Veterans...

Hope Capital renews Brickflow tie-up as digital distribution gains ground

Hope Capital Property Finance has extended its partnership with broker platform Brickflow as part...

Gen H extends New Build Boost scheme with Lovell Homes partnership

Gen H has widened its New Build Boost mortgage scheme through a new partnership...

Jupp: Brightstar will keep pushing specialist lending boundaries

Brightstar Group chief executive Rob Jupp has pledged to keep “pushing” the specialist lending market in 2026 as the distributor marks 15 years in business. Writing in the first issue of Brightstar Insights for 2026, Jupp said the firm’s focus remains firmly on growth, innovation...