Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News

Taking out a mortgage is something thousands of us do every year, and yet misinformation about the mortgage process – and particularly deposits – is rife. So, here are a couple of deposit myths you shouldn’t believe: You need a huge deposit to be approved Many people believe you’ll only get approved for a mortgage […]

Do you think you know how much your property is worth? Would you be surprised if it was worth much more – or much less? Many homeowners’ estimates don’t live up to reality, with nearly half of respondents (45%) to a survey1 undervaluing their property and 25% overestimating its worth. Less than a third were […]

The government’s mortgage guarantee scheme, which launched in April 2021, is encouraging lenders to offer mortgage finance to buyers with smaller deposits. It has been welcome news for prospective home buyers. The scheme works as follows. The government offers lenders a ‘guarantee’ on 95% LTV mortgages (i.e. those worth 95% of the property value, with […]

How does your garden grow? Since the pandemic hit the UK, Brits have been spending more time in their garden – and spending more on them, too. According to new research1, 58% of respondents to a survey said their garden is now a bigger priority, which has been reflected in their spending. Almost a quarter […]

The UK has become a nation of staycationers, which in turn has caused the price of holiday homes to soar, according to research1. The purchase price of holiday lets increased by 12% between October 2020 (£387,993 on average) and March 2021 (£435,476 on average), based on holiday home mortgage applications. Sharp rise in mortgage applications […]

International travel returned in a limited way on 17 May, while those not going abroad have their pick of the UK’s most beautiful staycation destinations this summer. But whether you’re holidaying at home or abroad, make sure your property is protected. Many of us have fully embraced the national DIY craze during our year at […]

Buyer demand for UK property is showing no signs of abating as we head into the summer months, with one comparison site using conveyancing quote data to predict a house price spike of 2.9% in June and 3.7% in July, based on springtime sales agreed1. A 14-year high House price growth continues to rocket as […]

Home insurance may not be a legal requirement, but it’s essential if you want to protect your belongings against theft or damage. Avoid invalidating your cover Even households that have cover in place need to take care to ensure they don’t accidentally render their policy worthless. Although many householders are aware that actions such as […]

What a relief, spring is here and hope is in the air after a long, bleak winter. For those looking to move, there’s even better news – spring to early summer has historically been the best time of year to put your house on the market1. Proven to be the optimal time for selling your […]

With millions of homeowners taking advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday and putting their home on the market, eager sellers have been looking at ways to increase the value of their property. So, they might be interested in research1 that has unearthed a little-known way of adding value to your home: the colour of your […]