Home Finance – In the news
BoMaD boom Half of all first-time buyer transactions were supported by the Bank of Mum & Dad (BoMaD) in 2021, according to analysis1. BoMaD contributions of £9.8bn helped 169,000 first-time buyers onto the housing ladder. Surging BoMaD contributions could become the norm, analysts suggest, after Help to Buy is withdrawn completely from March 2023 onwards. Time to negotiate? Six in ten […]
The housing market – what does 2022 hold in store?
Key drivers in the housing market in 2021 were a continuing desire for homes with more indoor and outdoor space, a mismatch in supply and demand, and the temporary cut in Stamp Duty. The resulting property boom, which according to Zoopla culminated in 1.5 million homes having changed hands last year, also saw UK house […]
Budget update
In the run up to the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor pledged an additional £1.8bn to assist housing supply via land regeneration. The additional funds are aimed at delivering 160,000 new homes and comprises of two parts: • £300m to be distributed to councils and combined authorities to help them unlock smaller brownfield sites for housing […]
‘Noise’ blocking – good for your portfolio
It’s easy to feel bombarded by the constant cycle of negative news headlines or ‘noise’, which can add to your anxiety about how your investments are doing and uncertainty as to whether your investment strategy is on the right course. It’s important to try and block out this noise which could influence you to make […]
Government invests heavily in flood alleviation
The government is investing over £860m during 2021-22 to protect homes and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. It is part of a £5.2bn package to be spent over the next six years, the details of which are set out in the Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan, published on 29 July. It will, the […]
Annexes: not just for Granny
Converting existing outbuildings into residential space used to be the preserve of those whose elderly parents had grown too frail or dependent to live alone – hence the term ‘Granny annex’. Now, however, annexes are coming in useful for a wide variety of purposes. So popular are they, in fact, that councils received approximately 9,000 […]
Best ways to add value to your home
Several months of double-digit house price growth has benefited homeowners looking to sell. However, if you want to boost the asking price of your home even further, it’s important to understand which projects will add the most value once you’ve factored in the cost of the job itself. The most valuable projects Loft conversions can […]
Young adults struggle to understand the mortgage process
It is hardly a secret that young people face significant barriers on their way to purchasing their first home. Quite apart from prohibitive house prices and stringent affordability criteria, a lack of understanding of how the mortgage process works is also holding them back. According to a survey1, 52% of adults aged 18–34 say they […]
COP26 – working together to tackle the climate crisis
The United Nation’s 26th Conference of the Parties – COP26 – is recognised as the most important climate change event since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Due to be held this November in Glasgow, the summit will bring together world leaders to build on the work left unfinished by COP25 and the goals set out in […]
Lockdown savings? Should you overpay on your mortgage?
Some families have found it easier to save more than normal during the pandemic, due to reduced outgoings on things like commuting, holidays and entertainment. If you have a mortgage, overpaying is one option worth considering. Benefits of overpaying In a low-rate environment, savings rates are likely to be lower than your mortgage rate, so […]