Nobody wants to pay too much for their home. During the home buying process, there are many causes of stress. Making sure you don’t overpay doesn’t need to be one. That’s because getting the right survey can give you peace of mind that you are paying a fair price. What is a survey? A survey […]
Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News
No plans to downsize for the majority of over 55s
Only one in seven non-retired homeowners over 55 plan to downsize after they stop working, a new study1 suggests. In a poll of 2,000 adults over the age of 55, half said they plan on staying in their current home after they retire. For those aged 71 to 75, the figure is 68%. No hassle, […]
Making sure you have got your mortgage covered?
Taking out life insurance may not be a legal requirement if you have a mortgage, but it certainly is sensible to have. The benefits When applying for a mortgage, proof of cover could make you a stronger candidate in the eyes of a lender because they know that, in the event of your death, other […]
Buy-to-let landlords expanding portfolios?
New research1 indicates that more than half (52%) of buy-to-let (BTL) landlords have been actively expanding their property portfolios over the past year, with 25% acquiring one property and an additional 27% acquiring multiple properties. Looking at the next twelve months, 26% intend to acquire a single property, while another 26% plan to expand their […]
In the news
Equity release trends According to the Equity Release Council1, total annual lending reached £2.6bn in 2023, compared to a record-breaking £6.2bn in 2022, returning the market to the level of activity last seen between 2016 to 2017 (£2.1bn to £3.1bn). The total number of plans agreed last year was 26,119, a drop of 47% from […]
More later life FTBs
The challenges young people face in getting on the property ladder are a regular feature in the media. A less-often discussed impact of the UK’s housing market, however, is the rising age of first-time buyers (FTBs). Average age rises The biggest increase in FTBs in the last five years has been among older homebuyers, a […]
Adding value to your home this spring
If you’re looking to sell this year, you might be wondering how to add extra value to your home before listing. It’s not always obvious, though, what are the best ways to do this, so it is easy to become fearful of sinking money into a project that might not increase the sale price. Fortunately, […]
Spring Budget overlooks first-time buyers
It was a disappointing Spring Budget for anyone looking to get onto the housing ladder. There were no announcements on Lifetime ISAs, no changes to Stamp Duty thresholds, no replacement for Help to Buy and the Chancellor had already scrapped plans for 99% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages after resistance from the banking community. A deafening silence […]
House number 13 – are you superstitious?
A recent study1 suggests that some Brits are superstitious, as homes numbered 13 are valued lower than the average property. Over 10 million houses have been analysed, each with a door number between 1–100. It seems many homeowners would like to be number one, as the first house on the street is worth the most […]
Home sweet home
What makes you feel at home? A recent survey1 has highlighted that, for many Brits, it is about more than just bricks and mortar. When asked what was most important, family photos came top of the list, followed by fresh bed sheets and a full fridge. Books, blankets, and a TV were also popular. Comes […]