Opinions & blogs

Is the industry too pessimistic about the year ahead?

As you might have expected, there has been a flurry of data, statistics and...

Planning and development changes offer new year opportunities

The end of the year is not only a time for reflection, but for...

Are we underestimating the cost of retrofitting?

Whether we like it or not, most things in life usually come down to...

Express yourself

Bridging finance has many attractions, but the one which is almost always relevant to...

AI is not the answer for later life lending

Earlier this year, the government held a conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as Rishi...

Why remortgaging remains a viable capital raising tool

Time is of the essence in the buy-to-let (BTL) market, where the ability to...

Always time to mitigate your fraud risk

In times of economic uncertainty, the risk of fraudulent activity and financial crime often...

New build solutions in a challenging market

New build properties are an attractive proposition for many borrowers, whether they are a...

Don’t underestimate the value of trackers in today’s market

Rate levels, as you might expect, continue to dominate market debate, particularly in the...

Offering landlords that bit extra

I’m sure that those firms operating in the intermediary market with a strong landlord...

Helping FTBs overcome the affordability hurdle in testing times

The challenges faced by first-time buyers (FTBs) have been well-documented over the years. Issues...

Are you asking the right questions of your CRM system?

I’m sure the vast majority of us are constantly searching for a variety of...

Converting the bridging opportunities

Given the sustained lull in the overall volume of property-related transactions over the course...

Customer service – from the broker’s point of view

Excellent customer service is the lifeblood of the mortgage and client relationship, but from...

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Helping university students onto the property ladder

As we head towards the Easter break, thousands of first-year university students up and down the country will be preparing for exams and making...

Lenders must step up on high LTV products

Things are on the up for borrowers with a smaller deposit. The financial information website Moneyfacts publishes a regular update on mortgage product numbers,...

Why it matters that bridging hit more than £10bn last year

We see many numbers bandied around in the financial industry, which can sometimes have a numbing effect. So why should we all, especially brokers, care...

Top five reasons why renters should consider short-term protection insurance

In an unpredictable world, financial security can often feel like a luxury, especially for renters who may already juggle living expenses, rent payments, and...

Credit search vs credit scoring

The terms credit score and credit check are often used interchangeably by consumers, many of whom assume they mean the same thing. Yet understanding...

Latest news

Spring surge in property listings creates market opportunities

The average asking price for newly listed properties has risen by 1.1% (+£3,876) this...

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance appoints senior portfolio director

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance (STB CF) has announced the appointment of Carl Pykett...

Inflation expectations rise slightly as BoE releases latest survey

Public expectations for inflation and interest rates have edged higher, according to the Bank...

£1 billion lost annually as 50,000 London social homes used fraudulently

A shocking new report reveals that around 50,000 social housing properties in London are...