Home insurance – the finer detail – can you read the T&Cs?
Do you check the details of your home insurance policy? If you don’t, you’re certainly not alone because a fifth of adults in the UK don’t either, potentially leaving them with insufficient or the wrong type of cover. Interestingly, just under a quarter (24%) of respondents to a recent survey1 said that the T&Cs were […]
Getting a mortgage in retirement
These days, it’s not uncommon for people to become homeowners later in life. But can you get a mortgage even if you’re retired? If so, what’s the maximum age? First things first: we’re not going to pretend that getting a mortgage past the age of 55 is easy. For a start, it is more difficult […]
Lifetime renters pay over £330k more
While getting on the housing ladder is becoming increasingly difficult, doing so could leave you richer to the tune of nearly £330,000. Research from the Equity Release Council (ERC)1 has found that today’s homebuyers could save hundreds of thousands of pounds – £326,214, to be exact – over a period of 30 years compared to […]
Top house hunter beauty spots
With 46 areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 40 national scenic areas (NSA) across Scotland, British house hunters are spoilt for choice. Now, research1 has revealed the top beauty spots prospective homebuyers are currently itching to move to, as well as ranking them by the most to least […]
Property ‘catfishing’ – new word, old trend?
Catfishing – it’s a term from the online dating world referring to somebody who presents themselves somewhat differently online to when you meet them in person. And it seems that a lot of prospective homebuyers are suffering the catfishing experience at property viewings, too. An unpleasant surprise A recent survey1 of homebuyers suggested that the […]
Avoiding collapse: managing your property chain in 2022
You’ve found your ideal property, you’re just about ready to exchange contracts, and then you get the call: your buyer has pulled out, leaving your own transaction in jeopardy. Unfortunately, many property transactions are interlinked in this way, with the decision of one buyer having a knock-on effect on the whole chain, with the worst […]
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 […]