First-time buyers

Rise in FTB numbers last month

The number of monthly first-time buyers increased 42% year-on-year in February, as buyers snapped...

Typically subdued January for lending

The total number of loans advanced to home-owners for house purchase decreased in January,...

Over 11,000 high LTV mortgages completed in February

Lending to high LTV borrowers reached a six-year high in February, as monthly high...

CML reports seasonal dip on lending

The total number of home-owner loans for house purchase in January 2014 was down...

Six year high for FTB lending

Lending to first-time buyers in the final quarter of 2013 was at its highest...

RICS calls for end to Stamp Duty brackets

George Osborne should reform Stamp Duty thresholds in the upcoming Budget, RICS has said. It...

Halifax Intermediaries to pay FTB stamp duty costs

Halifax Intermediaries is offering to pay the full stamp duty bill for first time...

Stamp duty not considered by a quarter of FTBs

22% of first-time buyers aren't thinking about the cost of stamp duty before making...

Help to Buy “giving hope to the younger generation”

The two different phases of the Help to Buy scheme are both visibly improving...

6% quarterly growth in London FTBs

In the fourth quarter of 2013, 13,400 loans were advanced to first-time buyers in...

The Teachers widens criteria for teachers

Teachers Building Society has widened availability of its mortgage range, including products for...

The Saffron makes criteria enhancements

Saffron For Intermediaries has improved its buy-to-let and first-time buyer lending criteria. For buy-to-let,...

H&R unveils new 95% LTV fix

Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has launched a new two year fixed rate mortgage...

FTBs dream of a three-bed

New research from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks has found that a three-bedroom home heads...

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

Landbay adds 11 tracker products and cuts rates by up to 15bps

Landbay has expanded its buy-to-let tracker range with 11 new products and reduced rates...

Howden expands in North Wales with Wrexham office

Howden has opened its first commercial insurance office in Wrexham as the broker expands...

UK buyers reluctant to compromise despite affordability pressures

UK homebuyers remain committed to purchasing a property but are less willing than buyers...

Keystone trims buy-to-let fixed rates by up to 15bps

Keystone Property Finance has reduced pricing across a number of its buy-to-let mortgage ranges,...

PROFILES