Minnie and Olga, Regina and Stuart – are all storm names for 2024 pre-allocated by the Met Office. With the average claim for storm damage topping £3,0001, it’s important to protect your home against extreme weather. So, what measures can you take? Keeping safe in a storm Ensuring you insure The most important step to […]
Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News
Autumn Statement update
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement on 22 November, with a host of announcements on personal taxation and measures for business. Housing was largely absent from the key fiscal event, but there are a couple of points to be aware of. Mortgage guarantee scheme extended This scheme, introduced in March 2021 […]
Looking ahead – the housing and mortgage markets in 2024
Falling house prices and turbulent mortgage rates made 2023 an unpredictable year for homeowners and movers. As the bells ring out for the start of 2024, is a calmer year on the cards? Three key questions dominate analysts’ minds it seems. First, do house prices have further to fall? Second, will mortgage rates go lower? […]
BOMAD do their bit
The Bank of Mum and Dad (BOMAD) is being called upon to help with more than just a house deposit these days. As more parents and grandparents reach deeper into their pockets to help their offspring, it is vital not to compromise your own financial security. Mortgages and more One in four parents with assets […]
Interest-only searches on the up
The number of searches relating to interest-only mortgages soared by 53% in June, as borrowers sought out ways to lower their monthly expenditure. More interest in interest-only Research1 shows that ‘interest-only mortgages’ was the most common search term in August, ahead of other staples like ‘buy-to-let’ and ‘fixed-term’. The jump is likely to be linked […]
Home insurance claims?
Home insurance offers protection against the most likely things that can go wrong in your home. While we often think of outside threats like theft or fire, a new study1 has shown that more claims result from clumsiness than malice. Accidents happen Accidental damage and escape of water are the most common reasons people claim […]
Home Finance – In the news
Most landlords not selling yet Two in three buy-to-let landlords have no plans to sell any of their properties in the upcoming year, new research1 has revealed. While the new Renters Reform Bill had led some to predict a selling spree, it seems most are holding onto their investments – for now. Those with a […]
New builds command premium
New-build properties remain overwhelmingly popular despite a small drop in the number of starts in the past year. New home starts slip Work was started on 137,800 new-build homes in England during the 2022/23 financial year to the value of £55bn1, which represents a 1.4% year-on-year decline. Generally, a new-build house or flat is counted […]
Your safety net
When faced with the unpredictability that life brings, it is comforting to have the support of protection cover. Increased household bills, mortgage and rent costs, mean that protection is more important than ever right now but, in response to these challenging conditions, some households are considering reducing their level of protection – leaving themselves vulnerable […]
Mortgages – keep calm
After successive Bank Rate rises, the cost of a mortgage hit a 15-year high in July and will likely stay high for much of the next year. In unpredictable and unsettling times, here are some ways for mortgage holders to keep a cool head. Help is available If you’re worried about your mortgage payments, in […]