Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Luton have been hailed the best top five cities for landlords to invest in this year, based on analysis of key indicators impacting BTL desirability (including average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield and long-term return through house price growth)1. Investors have been eschewing London, which has slipped […]
Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News
BTL investors tap into domestic holiday demand
Pandemic-related travel restrictions have unleashed huge demand for UK-based rentals among British holidaymakers – with buy-to-let (BTL) investors scrambling to take advantage. According to figures1, holiday let mortgage availability has trebled since 2020, giving would-be investors ample opportunity to tap into this demand. There are now 231 buy-to-let mortgages eligible for holiday lets on the […]
Up close and personal with your mortgage rate
Do you know if you could benefit from remortgaging? If not, the first step is to compare your current interest rate to those currently available on the market. Several surveys over recent years have shown that a substantial minority of people have no idea what their mortgage interest rate actually is. Interest rates on the […]
Are your home contents worth more than you think?
In January this year, a team clearing out the home of a retired antiques dealer and lifelong hoarder found a treasure trove of valuables worth £50,000. Among the piles of bags and boxes stuffed haphazardly into the Victorian townhouse were eight grandfather clocks worth £1,000, an antique chair worth between £600 and £800, and a […]
Home Finance – In the news
New government initiative ‘The Older People’s Housing Taskforce’ With demand for homes for older people four times higher than supply, the government has been urged to investigate1. The UK’s largest retirement housebuilder is requesting the introduction of rules to ensure 10% of new housing is designed for pensioners. A new government initiative ‘The Older People’s […]
As life changes your mortgage should too
The cost of living has shot up in recent months, with inflation expected to reach a peak of 8.7% in Q41 and many families facing a significant hike on their annual energy bills from April. With finances squeezed, every penny counts – so it’s important to consider all the options for streamlining your outgoings. If […]
Renters feeling the strain
The cost-of-living crisis is likely to be felt by most Britons this year, with increases in energy and food costs and the increase in National Insurance Contributions from April. In addition, renters need to add in the rising cost of renting a property, with the average price for a new tenancy up by 8.5% from […]
On the move this spring?
As we move into spring, aspiring movers will likely find themselves feeling galvanised to proceed with their homeownership goals. Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking to get onto the property ladder, a second stepper seeking the perfect home for a growing family, or a downsizer on the hunt for a smaller property to help build […]
Getting a mortgage when retired – what you need to know
Becoming a homeowner later in life is not uncommon these days, but is it possible to get a mortgage if you’re retired? All the fives It’s true that getting a mortgage becomes a lot harder after the age of 55. First because it is more difficult to prove retirement income than it is to prove […]
Long-term renters miss out
In today’s market, getting a foot on the housing ladder is no easy task, but new research highlights just how rewarding home ownership can be. Research from the Equity Release Council (ERC)1 has found that someone buying a house today could save £326,214 in the next 30 years compared with people who rent throughout the […]