Everybody needs good neighbours
Most people (98%)1 appreciate the impact their home has on their sense of wellbeing, which can be thrown into turmoil if problems with neighbours present. Nearly two thirds of Britons (64%) have had a dispute with a neighbour2, with Welsh residents having the most gripes (72%), followed by those in Northern England (70%), South West […]
In the news
Granny and Grandad lend a hand Nearly half (48%) of grandparents have stepped in to shore up their financially-struggling grandchildren during the pandemic1. This help has come in the form of cash (32%), childcare (8%) and assistance with rent and mortgage payments (6%). FCA announces new mortgage support Borrowers struggling to make their mortgage repayments […]
Renovation nation gets stuck in
It seems the months spent at home have been put to good use as the nation reflected on their living space and chose to spend an average of just over £4,000 each on renovating their homes, since lockdown commenced in March. A study1 has highlighted that the key area for improvement has been upgrades to […]
Are you mortgage-ready?
Your first port of call should be getting your finances in good shape before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan. Some top tips for standing yourself in good stead include: Save – To improve the chances of being offered a mortgage on favourable terms, save as much as […]
Changing equity release motivations in Scotland
The pandemic and ensuing lockdown forced many of us to adopt a back to basics approach to everyday life, a shift which has transcended to many people’s financial motivations too. For people choosing to release equity from their homes in 2020, different reasons emerged for doing so during the pandemic as a direct result of […]
Scottish property boom – the 3D effect
The reopening of the Scottish property market on 29 June has caused a post-lockdown housing boom, with homes in Glasgow and Edinburgh selling faster than anywhere else in the UK. According to Zoopla1, Glasgow properties sold within just 16 days between 13 May and 13 August this year, with Edinburgh hot on its heels at […]
Mortgage market recovery in Scotland
At the height of lockdown, dire predictions of economic disaster, huge job losses and a deep property market slump were relentless. It seemed there was no good news to be found. While uncertainty still prevails, sparks of hope are beginning to creep in. The July Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors […]
‘Astonishing’ recovery for mortgage market
At the height of lockdown, dire predictions of economic disaster, huge job losses and a deep property market slump were relentless. It seemed there was no good news to be found. While uncertainty still prevails, sparks of hope are beginning to creep in, though infection rates started to rise in early September. New data from […]