Blogs

Meeting the needs of the self-employed

Historically speaking, self-employed borrowers have faced an uphill battle when it comes to securing...

A time for firms to learn, explore and evaluate

The intermediary community has always been adept at embracing change and evolving to maintain...

Why being self-employed isn’t a barrier to mortgages at 50 or 90

It is generally thought that if a person is self-employed, their mortgage options are...

Finding ways to avoid the turbulence

Interest rate time horizons can be difficult to deal with at the best of...

Ignore the out-of-date picture of later life lending

When it comes to advising in the later life lending space, one thing you...

First-time landlords are not a dying breed

The ongoing debate about the private rental sector (PRS) having anywhere near adequate supply...

EPC rules will put the rental sector to the test

As I write, speculation is mounting that the Government is on the verge of...

Homeowners look to consolidate debt as credit card spending grows

As of January 2023, a staggering £63.9 billion was outstanding on credit cards, following...

Flexible approach key to opening up retirement mortgages

There can be no doubt that demand for later life lending is strong at...

Significant dates for the broker diary

There are a few notable dates to be aware of this month – first...

Digging deeper for buy-to-let

Ever since the first product of its kind was launched into the mortgage market...

Why the BTL contraction is damaging to FTBs

The borrowing capacity of UK homeowners has reduced significantly over the last year, as...

Is there a more traditional lending springboard around the corner?

As we edge closer to Spring and, historically speaking, the busiest time of year...

Posing the principal questions around any expansion plans

Any new year brings new plans, fresh ambitions and a host of additional opportunities....

COMMENT

Harpenden’s expat move could be bigger than the numbers suggest

Harpenden Building Society’s move into expat mortgages this summer has been good news for brokers and borrowers. But I think its importance goes beyond...

We need to wait to get a clearer picture

It's been a week where the political and economic backdrop has moved almost as fast as rates themselves, and it's worth taking stock of...

Leasehold valuation reform: the consultation is asking only half the question

The Government's consultation on leasehold enfranchisement valuation rates is important because it will help determine what leaseholders pay to extend leases or buy freeholds,...

What commonhold will mean for mortgage lenders and brokers

Commonhold is often presented as the straightforward alternative to leasehold. It removes the freeholder, gives flat owners greater control and avoids some familiar problems...

Why you need to know what sits behind the average review score

There’s a funny thing about review scores. The better they are, the less likely we are to question them. If a company is sitting at...

Latest news

Millions of households exposed to financial shocks despite apparent stability

Millions of UK households that appear financially secure could struggle to absorb an unexpected...

The Mortgage Hut adopts Instamo tool to speed up mortgage applications

The Mortgage Hut has introduced Instamo's FastSubmit technology to reduce the amount of manual...

FCA sets out timetable for major expansion of anti-money laundering supervision

The FCA expects to begin taking over anti-money laundering supervision of legal, accountancy and...

MAB revenue rises as refinancing drives mortgage completions

Mortgage Advice Bureau reported an 8.6% increase in first-half revenue to £161.0m as higher...

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