In the news – Home Finance
Interest in equity release More than half (57%) of homeowners have expressed interest in releasing equity from their property, according to the Equity Release Council. Across all ages, the most popular reason is to boost pension income and savings, followed by paying for care support at home. The total housing equity available to retirees and […]
Strongest seller’s market in ten years
Nearly seven in ten properties up for sale (68%) across the UK found a buyer in the year to June 2021, according to Rightmove data1 – the highest percentage in a decade. This is significantly higher than the average 53% of homes that found a buyer between 2012 and early 2020. Scotland leads the way […]
Housing and mortgage recovery to remain strong
Despite challenges presented by the pandemic, the housing and mortgage market is expected to remain robust, with gross mortgage lending projected to reach £285bn this year. The revised figure from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has been uplifted from a previous forecast of £283bn. The predictions follow a surge in mortgage lending, stimulated by […]
Do you know your home’s true worth?
Most people have a rough estimate in their head of how much they could sell their home for if they ever decided to move – but how accurate is it? In a survey1, nearly half (45%) of homeowners undervalued their property by £46,305 on average, while 25% overestimated by an average of £44,313, with under […]
Equity release availability hits record high
The number of equity release products on the market is the highest it has ever been, with rates over two percentage points lower than five years ago. Data1 shows that the number of equity release products now exceeds 500 – the highest on record. The analysis also reveals that the maximum available LTV has remained […]
Mortgage myth-busting
When it comes to taking out a mortgage, there are lots of myths flying about – especially when it comes to that all-important deposit. We’re here to bust those mortgage myths and help you onto the property ladder. You need a huge deposit to get a mortgage There’s a prevailing belief that you need a […]
Mortgage guarantee scheme reassures lenders
Launched in April 2021, the government guarantee scheme for 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgages has been welcome news for prospective homebuyers with a 5% deposit. The scheme offers a government ‘guarantee’ on 95% LTV mortgages to encourage cautious lenders to bring back these deals. The guarantee applies to the portion of the loan over […]
Holiday season is officially on (but make sure your home is protected)!
With the limited resumption of international travel prompting a flurry of holiday bookings, whether you’re raring to fly or sticking with a staycation, make sure you don’t leave your home vulnerable. With lockdowns preventing us from going on holiday for much of the past year, it’s little wonder we’re all desperate to get away. However, […]
In the News – Home Finance
Investing in your garden It seems that gardens have become more important to UK homeowners during the pandemic1, with 58% saying that their garden has become more of a priority, resulting in a willingness to spend considerably more on their outdoor space. Just 12% of homeowners normally spend more than £600 on their garden each […]
Sorting out your mortgage during divorce
Divorce can be an incredibly stressful time for couples and the financial impact it can have only adds to the pressure. The number of couples getting divorced surged by almost a fifth in 20191. Although data for 2020 has not yet been released, after the strains of the last year or so, unfortunately it would […]