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 […]
Category archives: Mortgages & General Property News
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 […]
Mortgage Charter provides relief
A helping hand for mortgage holders was announced at the start of August by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt with a view to providing support to residential mortgage customers suffering from rising interest rates. Three-part plan The Mortgage Charter has three key elements: More flexible Further flexibility relates to customers approaching the end of a fixed-rate deal. […]
Older homeowners staying put
First home, family home… then what? Maybe nothing, new research suggests1, with older homeowners standing their ground and not considering downsizing. Indeed, seven in 10 respondents said that they are not looking to downsize, in a survey of 1,000 homeowners. Moreover, although 29% do plan to downsize within the next five years, only 13% of […]
Joint mortgages for FTBs
Traditionally, when thinking about joint mortgages, most people picture a married couple. Increasingly, however, friends or siblings are taking out joint mortgages when they buy their first home together. Stronger together A joint mortgage is the most popular way for first-time buyers (FTBs) to fund their home purchase, with more than six in ten opting […]
Over 50s reconsidering life insurance
Continued high inflation is prompting over 50s to reconsider whether they really need their life insurance policies, research has suggested1, sparking fears of vulnerabilities. Cutting costs A survey of 1,000 people aged 50+ has shown that 22% of customers are thinking about cancelling their monthly payments as a result of the rising cost of living. […]