Are you considering a fixed rate mortgage?

There are many people at the moment who are considering switching to a fixed rate mortgage amidst fears that the base interest rate could increase over the next few months, leading to a rate rise on variable rate mortgages and resulting in higher mortgage repayments. Over recent months many homeowners have waited with bated breath each time a Monetary Policy Committee meeting takes place to see whether the base rate is set to increase.

The speculation with regards to whether the base rate will increase over the next few months has continued to increase. Many believe that the base rate will stay at its record low of 0.5 percent for some time to come because of concerns about the continued fragility of the UK economy. With the rate setters still having to consider the effects a rate increase could have on the economy at what is still a very difficult time some believe that it would be irresponsible for the MPC to increase the rate at this stage.

At the same time many believe that the fact that inflation has soared to way over the 2 percent target set by the government means that the MPC will have to increase the base rate in order to bring inflation down and then keep a lid on it. If this is the case then the base rate may increase sooner rather than later, which could result in homeowners with variable rate mortgages seeing their interest rates and repayments go up.

Anyone that is considering whether or not to switch to a fixed rate mortgage needs to do a little research. It is important to look at the fixed rates that lenders are offering to determine what sort of rate you will be able to get if you do decide to switch. It is also important to work out whether you would be able to afford any increases in repayments if the base rate was to rise.

In this particular climate, with so many differences in opinion with regards to future interest rate movement it is difficult for people to decide whether to switch to a fixed rate deal or just continue with a variable rate one and hope for the best. Some people have already taken action and switch to a fixed rate before the rates go any higher in anticipation of a base rate rise.

One official said: “The stand-out trend in the mortgage market at present is the increase in the number of rate-wary borrowers remortgaging onto fixed rates. People know that rate rises are coming and they are locking in now before fixed rates move higher. Essentially, borrowers are running for cover.”

Tags: committee meeting, anyone, interest rate, rate increase, fact, speculation, increase

First time buyers looking at a year’s salary for deposit

Before the global credit crisis made its way to the UK many first time buyers were blessed with the ability to be able to get not only a mortgage with ease but also a mortgage that did not require any deposit. In fact, many first time buyers were able to get a mortgage for more than the value of the home that they were buying, giving them enough cash left over to furnish or renovate the property.

However, over the past few years this has all changed, and first time buyers have found themselves in an increasingly difficult position, leaving many of them unable to consider getting onto the property market. Whist property prices may have come down they are still high enough to keep the average first time buyer off that first rung of the property ladder. Mortgages have become increasingly difficult to come by, as lenders exercise increased caution over who they are prepared to grant loans to. When it comes to deposits first time buyers have well and truly found themselves in a difficult position, with lenders demanding a large percentage by way of a deposit to consider the buyer for a mortgage.

In fact, the level of deposit has soared over recent years, and this is one of the main reasons why so many first time buyers are struggling to get onto the property ladder. In 2007, prior to the onset of the global financial crisis, the average deposit required by a first time buyer was £12700. However, this has now soared to £31,500, which means that the average first time buyers will need significantly more than a year’s salary to be able to put down a deposit.

The government is calling on various housing and lending bodies to help first time buyers, and the Housing Minister Grant Shapps has met with various bodies to discuss the problems that now face first time buyers. It is thought that around 1.4 million households are keen to own their own property but are affected by the squeeze on mortgages. Shapps spent time discussing issues such as new products that may be able to help first time buyers, specialist insurance for lenders, and shared equity schemes for first time buyers.

Shapps said: “I do not want to see the current generation completely locked out of the market. The pendulum has swung too far the other way, where even if you have a good salary and save to get a deposit, you still cannot get a deposit.”

Tags: time buyers, grant shapps, generation, cash, good salary

Is a ‘friends’ mortgage’ a good idea?

In the past most people that were buying a home either did so alone or with a partner/husband, which was the traditional way of getting a first home. However, things have really changed over recent years, and these days many people cannot afford to buy a home on their own.

This means that many have had to look at alternatives when it comes to moving out from their parents or from rented accommodation and trying to get their foot onto the property ladder, and things aren’t always easy, particularly given the difficulties that many face when it comes to raising a deposit and getting a mortgage in the current financial climate.

One of the solutions that some people have considered is to get a mortgage out with a friend, whereby both friends – or a group – are all in on the mortgage and they buy the property between them. This can certainly solve a few problems, such as being able to raise the amount needed for the deposit and being able to borrow the amount required for the property.

However, this can cause issues in the event that one of the friends involved wants to sell up and move on, as it means that they would have to get rid of their share of the mortgage. Another problem is if there is a falling out, and whilst most friends hope that they will never come to blows to a degree where things cannot be resolved this can happen.

Whilst a friends’ mortgage can be a good way of getting onto the property ladder in the current financial climate it is important for anyone getting involved to ensure that they consider both the pros and cons before making any firm decision or commitment, as things otherwise turn very sour very quickly – and it could end up being a costly mistake.

For those that do not really want to get involved in a mortgage with someone else but do want to get onto the property ladder another solution is to look at shared ownership, where only part of the property is purchased and the remainder is rented through a housing association and can be purchased in stages at a later date as and when the buyer is in a financial position to buy further shares in the home. The buyer then has the choice of buying the remainder of the home until it has all been purchased or remaining a part owner and selling their share when they decide to move on.

Tags: property, share, mortgage, Mortgage loan, friends

Making money from your home

These days many people are finding it difficult to sell their homes, largely because there is a shortage of buyers fuelled by lack of mortgage availability and low consumer confidence amongst would be buyers. The scrapping of the controversial Home Information Packs by the coalition government resulted in more people wanting to put their properties up for sale, but the low level of interest from buyers may have put many sellers in a difficult position.

Whilst it may be difficult for sellers to actually get their properties sold in the current climate there are ways in which it may be possible to make some money from the property if a decision is made to take it off the market until conditions improve. For some people this could be a viable way to clear some more of the mortgage whilst the property market improves.

Hiring out a room to a friend

Many people probably know of a friend, colleague, or even a family member who may be looking for a place to live, and offering a room out to such a person could help out the friend or family member and bring in some more money to pay the bills and mortgage. For many this is a great solution because they are sharing with someone that they know rather than a complete stranger but at the same time will still be able to make some money to make the mortgage and bill payments each month.

Taking in a lodger

In the current climate many people are struggling to afford a mortgage or even to rent a property of their own, and this has resulted in many looking for just a room to rent. If you do not have a problem offering up a room to someone that you do not know personally then taking in a lodger could be a good way to make money on your property. You could advertise your room, or you may find that there are people that place adverts to say that they are looking for a room.

Look at local amenities

It is a good idea to look at local amenities in your area, as you may find that there are colleges, universities, schools, or hospitals nearby where students, teachers, or doctors and nurses may be looking for local accommodation close to their work. Again, it may be a good idea to advertise if you are willing to rent out a room or you may find that those looking for accommodation place adverts themselves, enabling you to contact them.

Tags: money, room, mortgage, property, scrapping, accommodation, position, month

Why first time buyers could benefit from shared ownership

Buying a property has become an almost impossible feat for many first time buyers in the UK these days, not least because getting a mortgage loan has become so difficult. Whilst property prices have fallen since their peak they are still very high in the UK, and with lenders demanding a large percentage of the property value by way of a deposit many first time buyers still find themselves priced out of the market.

In some cases lenders are demanding in excess of 15 percent of the property value by way of a deposit, and this is something that most first time buyers cannot manage, as they have no pervious property from which to take equity. As a result of this many first time buyers are having to move into rented accommodation, which makes it even more difficult to save a deposit to get themselves onto the property ladder.

However, there is another option that could prove ideal for many first time buyers in the UK and this is an option known as shared ownership. With a shared ownership property buyers only get a mortgage for a set percentage of the property value, and the they then pay rent on the remaining share to a housing association. Because they are only buying a share of the property initially they will need a lower mortgage and a lower deposit, but can still get themselves on the property ladder, albeit more gradually than in the traditional way.

The share of the property that first time buyers can get will vary based on the property and the housing association, and could be anything from between 25 percent and 75 percent. Often the houses that are sold as shared ownership are new build, which means that buyers can get their hands on a brand new property without having to find a huge mortgage and deposit upfront.

The great thing about shared ownership is that you will not have to rent the remaining share of the property forever, as you can ‘staircase’. This means that over time you can buy additional shares of the property as and when finances allow until eventually you own 100 percent of the home. Alternatively you may wish to continue on a shared ownership basis and then sell your share of the home to another person that wants shared ownership when you want to move on.

A number of housing associations deal with shared ownership properties, and there are both new build properties available as well as resales from those that want to sell their own shares in these properties. Whilst there may not be a huge difference in the amount that you pay out monthly with shared ownership compared to getting an outright mortgage (although it is generally cheaper) the key advantage is that you will not need a huge mortgage or deposit to start off with and can buy the remainder of the home as and when it is viable for you.

Tags: Equity sharing, property ladder, first time buyer, mortgage, property

New government may reverse stamp duty break for first time buyers

In the budget by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, earlier this year it was announced that there was to be a stamp duty break for first time buyers in the UK, and that first time buyers would be able to buy a property up to the value of £250,000 without having to pay any stamp duty.

The former Labour government was hoping to help more first time buyers onto the property ladder and to revive the housing market through this move. The increased stamp duty exemption threshold was twice the standard levels, which is £125,000, and was made available for first time buyers only.

However, it has emerged that the new coalition government is considering scrapping the extension on stamp duty exemption, which means that first time buyers could have this important tax break pulled out from under them just months after it was originally introduced.

The extension on stamp duty exemption was set to last for two years until 2012, but as part a range of cutbacks the new coalition government could end up getting rid of the stamp duty break. The Conservative party had previously supported increasing the stamp duty exemption threshold for first time buyers, and the Labour party was said to have pinched the idea from the Tories.

In fact, many thought that the Conservative party would make the increased exemption permanent if elected, but instead the government is considering scrapping the tax break altogether in a bid to save more money to clear the public deficit.

The recent budget stated: ‘As announced in the Coalition Agreement, the Government will review the stamp duty land tax relief for first time buyers taking into account its impact on affordability and value for money.’

Tags: first time buyer, Stamp duty in the United Kingdom, Herald Sun, tax, stamp duty, move, coalition agreement

Using a financial advisor to get a mortgage

There is little doubt that getting a mortgage these days has become increasingly difficult, and with this in mind many people may end up making the wrong choice when it comes to determining which is the right mortgage product for them. First time buyers in particular could experience difficulties when it comes to getting a mortgage, and in many cases could really do with some professional and independent assistance from an expert in the field.

Most estate agents will have someone at the branch that can offer assistance with getting a mortgage, and this is something that many people looking for help with finding a mortgage opt for. However, it is important to remember that the selection of lenders that these advisors have on their books will be limited, which means that you could effectively miss out on a better offer.

There are also many independent financial advisors in operation that offer advice and assistance on finding mortgages without charging any upfront fee to the buyer, as these advisors get their payments from the mortgage lender that they refer the borrower to. However, whilst the choice of lenders that these independent financial advisors have is generally quite good there is always a danger that you could be hooked up with a mortgage based on the amount of commission that the lender is going to pay the advisor.

With advisors that are being paid by the lender rather than by the borrower it can be difficult to determine whether the advisor truly has the best interests of the borrower at heart. This is why more and more people that want help with getting a mortgage are opting for an independent financial advisor that they pay themselves rather than one that is paid by the lender.

The benefit to choosing a paid independent financial advisor is that this means that the advisor will truly have your best interests at heart, as he or she will not be working on the basis of how much any particular lender will pay them in commission. This gives buyers the peace of mind that they need, as they know that the advisor will be looking for the best deal possible for them having no financial reason to do anything other than this.

There are a number of different financial advisors available that offer assistance with mortgages and other financial products. It is a good idea to check on the fees charged by each of these advisors and also check on their experience and testimonials wherever possible.

Tags: Mortgage loan, advisor, finance, mortgage, financial advisors

Boost your chances of getting a mortgage as a first time buyer

As many people are already aware getting a mortgage can be difficult for anyone these days, with the banks exercising extreme caution over who they lend to and putting a range of restrictions in place with regards to mortgage loans. However, one of the groups most likely to experience difficulties when it comes to mortgage loans is first time buyers.

There are many first time buyers that are desperate to get onto the property ladder, and have been for some time. However, for many years these potential buyers have faced difficulties when it comes to getting a property. Until the global credit crisis swept the nation first time buyers could get mortgages without even having to put down a deposit in most cases, but many could not afford the extortionate house prices that resulted from the many years of house price inflation.

Once the credit crunch hit property prices began to tumble, which is what many first time buyers may have been waiting for. However, at the same time as this the banks started to really rein in their lending, wiping out the 0 percent deposit that so many first time buyers had come to rely on and demanding huge sums up money upfront before even considering granting a mortgage loan. This has left first time buyers out in the cold once again, albeit for different reasons.

Whilst there is no doubt that first time buyers still face many challenges when it comes to getting a property there are some steps that they can take to try and improve the chances of getting onto the property ladder. One important thing to remember is that lenders are being very cautious over who they lend to, so it is advisable for first time buyers to be prepared and be aware of their credit rating. Before applying for a mortgage buyers are advised to order a copy of their credit report and check how good the rating is, as this will provide an idea of how likely it is that a mortgage will be granted.

Another think to consider is the level of deposit that the lender will want. Before wasting time looking at properties and applying for mortgages first time buyers should plan their budgets and spend time saving as much as possible, as the higher the deposit the more likely it is that an affordable mortgage will be granted by lenders.

Finally, more and more first time buyers are now turning to shared equity schemes, where they get a mortgage out to purchase a percentage of a property and rent the remainder from a housing association until they can also afford to buy the remaining share, which can be done in stages. This is a more effective and affordable way for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder these days, and it is possible to get a brand new house without having to take out a huge mortgage by using this option.

Tags: mortgage, money, Mortgage loan, potential buyers, ladder, check, finance

Are we home and dry when it comes to repossessions?

The UK, like many other countries, has been through a tough time over the past couple of years in terms of finances, and one of the side effects of the financial crisis has been the soaring level of repossessions that have taken place. Read more

Tags: homeowners, mortgage, repossession, financial crisis, Financial Services Authority, personal finance

First Time Homebuyers in Scotland Being Frozen Out of the Market

Due to the recession and the slump in the housing market, lenders are requiring higher deposits on mortgages before they will approve a loan for a person interested in purchasing a new home. Read more

Tags: council of mortgage lenders, finance, first time buyers, 25% deposit mortgages, first time home, palpable increase

Mortgage Defaults on the Rise as More People Become Unemployed

According to experts at City the number of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage could rise to about 400,000 by 2011 with the number of unemployed reaching a high of 3.5 million.

Ed Stansfield of Capital Economics equates the results of the current recession to that of the early 1990’s. At that time the housing crash and the recession resulted in 350,000 mortgage defaults. He expects that the unemployment statistics for 2011 will exceed that of the early 1990’s because of the close association between job losses and the inability of homeowners to make their monthly mortgage payments.

Stansfield projects that unemployment figures will reach a staggering 3.5 million by 2011. Banks are reporting that there are signs that this prediction is very likely to become reality.

Reports from Lloyds Banking Group show that at least 20% of the customers are now in a state of negative equity where they owe more money on their home than it is worth on the housing market.

As of the end of June, 2009, the largest High Street bank in Britain says over 83,000 of its mortgage customers are currently in arrears, representing an increase of 26% from 2008. The figures of arrears at the Bank of Scotland have not yet been released, but Northern Rock, a nationalised bank reports that it has more than 22,000 customers in arrears.

The Halifax division of Lloyds, though, is reporting that they are seeing signs of improvement in the housing industry. This is based on the fact that house prices are on the rise. In July house prices rose by 1.1% to an average price of £159,623. In spite of this increase, however, house prices are still about 12% lower than what they were last year with an average home selling for about £180,000.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors warns consumers not to read too much into the data. According to a spokesperson for this institute, “There has been a clear change in the housing market in the last few months and as a result it is unlikely that we will now see the kind of house price falls widely predicted at the start of the year. However, the outlook for 2010 is fairly uncertain and there is a real risk prices may slip back. Affordability is still stretched and mortgage finance, while improving, is fairly hard to come by.”

There is no need to panic if you feel that you are in danger of losing your job and think that you may end up defaulting on your mortgage putting your home at risk. Those who are finding themselves facing unemployment should discuss options with their lenders so that they can find ways of being able to continue making their payments and enjoying a clean credit record.

Lenders do recognize that during this recession there are many people in financial difficulty and are willing to help them find ways of easing the burden.

Tags: capital, negative equity, Royal Institute, recession, monthly mortgage payments, increase unemployment

Stop Overpaying Your Mortgage

In the past year, homeowners have been advised to overpay their mortgage whenever possible. However, this advice has changed in light of the news that banks and buildings societies have increased the interest rates they are paying on savings accounts. Read more

Tags: all-time low, london, mortgage repayments, lower mortgage payment, brokerage firm, savings accounts, advice, overpay mortgage

Are banks becoming more generous with their lending?

A number of reports that have been released recently have suggested that mortgage lending amongst banks in the UK has been increasing, and whilst the past couple of years has seen lending becoming increasingly restricted recent figures have indicated that mortgage lending levels have increased to their highest in around fourteen or fifteen months. Read more

Tags: fifteen months, Mortgages, anyone, banks, Financial services, state, mortgage market, mortgage lending

Should you Remortgage at a Lower Rate of Interest?

Lenders are offering sweet deals to homeowners who wish to remortgage their homes. HSBC is currently offering two-year fixed rate remortgage loans at the low rate of 2.69% and Nationwide has announced lower interest rates for those who can make a small deposit on the remortgage loan. Read more

Tags: loan, fixed rate mortgage, homeowners, five-year fixed rate, interest rates

Tips for Buying a Flat With Friends

Many times friends decide to pool their resources and buy a flat together. The combines resources and credit ratings gives them more borrowing power, which in turn allows them to purchase a larger flat in a better area of a city. Read more

Tags: group mortgages, buy flat with friends, idea, way, best process, document, Mortgages, house buying

Homeowners must be wary of repossession

Over the past couple of years the world of many homeowners has been rocked because they have suddenly found themselves threatened with the loss of their home through repossession. Thousands of struggling homeowners have indeed ended up losing their homes to repossession, whilst some have taken action early and managed to avoid losing their homes. Read more

Tags: anyone, Mortgages, homeowners, Citizen's Advice Bureau, repossession, top, afresh, busy getting court

Will banking industry reforms results in higher loan and mortgage costs?

In the current financial climate most people are already struggling to keep on top of their borrowing costs, and most can ill afford to cope with even higher borrowing and mortgage costs. Read more

Tags: banking reforms, sweeping reforms, council of mortgage lenders, mortgage costs, mortgage customers, billions

Low deposit mortgages increasingly difficult to get

Consumers that are hoping to take out a mortgage to buy a property are still facing a tough time according to officials, even thought house prices have been falling for the past year. Availability of mortgages is still very tight as a result of the ongoing global credit crunch, and many lenders continue to take some of their best deals off the market after very short periods of time. Read more

Tags: mortgage, low deposit mortgages, house market, traditional level, past year, are, global credit crunch, economics

Could you save money by selling your home online?

Selling your home can be a very long winded, stressful, and expensive affair, and never more so than these days when the bottom has fallen out of the property market and finances are tighter than ever. Those looking to sell their homes at present face a number of hurdles. First is the fact that estate agents are reporting very poor sales figures, with the number of properties remaining unsold on estate agents’ books at the highest level of decades. Read more

Tags: present face, average homeowner, decades, current state, house prices

What’s going on with house prices and mortgages?

There is no doubt that both the housing and the mortgage market have been going through a very turbulent time over the past year. House prices have been falling month on month, and mortgage availability has become increasingly tight. However, amidst all of the chaos that has been going on in these sectors many people may have become confused over what is actually going on in these markets. Read more

Tags: favour, house prices, economics, time, official, three-bed home, bedroom, Mortgages

Increasing number of rental properties coming onto the market

Over recent years consumers that were looking to rent a home in the private sector often found that the properties were being snapped up before they even had a chance to arrange a viewing, leaving them to start from scratch and select another property from the limited choice available. However, with the problems that have hit the housing and mortgage sectors recent figures show that a rising number of rental properties in the private sector are coming onto the market. Read more

Tags: RICS, rental properties, present, rent, Mortgages, duty, official, Business Finance

Toughest time in three decades for property sellers

There is little doubt that the housing market is going through some real challenges in the UK at the moment. Homes are losing value hand over fist, with prices going down on a monthly basis, and mortgage lending has become extremely restricted, which means that refinancing on a home or getting a mortgage to purchase a property has become very difficult for some people and nigh on impossible for others. Read more

Tags: huge 84%, three decades, Mortgages, house prices, low house sales, estate, Mortgage fraud, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Banks need to reduce their mortgage arrangement fees

At a time when borrowing has become increasingly expensive, and when household finances have become tighter and tighter due to the global credit crunch, higher bills, increasing living costs, and higher petrol prices, the UK’s mortgage lenders have decided to deal borrowers another blow by hiking up mortgage arrangement fees, making it even more difficult for the average struggling consumers to take out a mortgage or remortgage. In fact, in the current climate some poor consumers could find themselves facing fees of thousands of pounds to remortgage or take out a mortgage, making the whole process impossible for some who simply cannot cope with that sort of fee. Read more

Tags: Mortgages, fsa, extortionate, UK's financial regulator, council of mortgage lenders, current climate, matter

Are you planning to remortgage?

Over recent months many people with mortgages have decided to remortgage for one reason or another. Some have come off special deals that were valid for a limited time and have been forced to remortgage or risk the expensive of being pushed onto the lender’s standard variable rate, and others have decided to remortgage because they can get a better deal elsewhere, saving them money on their borrowing. However, a recent report has shown that there could be a dilemma now facing those planning to remortgage, as there is now confusion over what will happen with interest rates. Read more

Tags: security, remortgage, rate cuts, standard variable rate, convinced base rate, Central bank, mixed advice, arrangement

What the experts think of falling house prices

It has now become pretty clear to most industry professionals and consumers that house prices in the UK have already dropped significantly compared to last year, and are set to keep falling over the course of this year. Some officials think that house prices could fall in excess of 20% whereas other think the house price falls are more likely to be around 5-10%. A number of officials have already expressed their opinions on recently released figures relating to falling house prices. Read more

Tags: latent, support, Payday, department of communities, interest

Watchdog to probe sale and rent back

The UK’s watchdog, the Office of Fair Trading, recently announced that it would be launching an investigation into sale and rent back scheme, which have been gaining popularity over recent months due to the rising levels of people facing repossession due to high mortgage arrears. Whilst the sale and rent back industry has claimed that this is an ideal solution for many struggling homeowners, many campaigners have expressed concern over how fairly sale and rent back customers are treated. Read more

Tags: Subprime mortgage crisis, bank, public improved protection, office of fair trading, home insurance, change

Are you looking to refinance your mortgage?

People in the UK have become far more savvy about finances over the years, and when it comes to mortgages many people have realized that there are some great deals out there that could save them a fortune in interest as well as reducing their monthly repayments. However, for many consumers simple apathy or misguided loyalty has resulted in them staying with the same mortgage provider through thick and thin without giving any thought to just how much they could save by simply refinancing the mortgage, whether with the same lender or with another one.
Read more

Tags: amount, Mortgages, Real estate, extra money, Financial services, loan, refinance mortgage

Repayment Vs Interest Only Mortgage

If you are on the lookout for a mortgage to purchase a property in the UK you could find yourself in something of a minefield, with a wide range of mortgages to select from, each offering a range of benefits to suit different needs and circumstances. However, all of these mortgages come under the umbrellas of either repayment mortgages or interest only mortgages. Read more

Tags: investment, finance, account, interest only mortgages, original mortgage, repayment mortgages, interest only mortgage, debt

Is a variable rate mortgage the right choice for me?

Consumers in the UK can enjoy a choice of mortgage options these days, and no matter what your needs and circumstances there is a good chance that there is a suitable mortgage product on the market for you. When it comes to mortgages consumers can enjoy options such as the standard variable rate, the fixed rate, base tracker mortgages, capped rate mortgages, and more. The most popular of these are the variable rate mortgage and the fixed rate mortgage, both of which offer benefits as well as disadvantages. Read more

Tags: interest, Mortgages, United Kingdom, Floating interest rate, Business Finance, UK mortgage terminology

Getting a mortgage with bad credit

Unfortunately, over recent years we have seen a steep rise in the level of consumer debt in the UK, and as a result of this many people have found themselves struggling to keep up with repayments. This has inevitably led to missed or late repayments, and for many individuals has resulted in a reduced credit score and a tarnished credit history. Your credit rating can have a huge impact on your ability to obtain any form of credit in the future, which includes mortgages, and those with a very bad credit history may experience real difficulties when it comes to getting an affordable mortgage – or any mortgage – from a lender. Read more

Tags: bad credit mortgages, credit, loan, tarnished credit history, rate, interest rate, Mortgages, high interest

Repayment and interest only mortgages

There are many different mortgages on the market these days, with something to suit most needs and circumstances, but all mortgages come under one of two umbrellas, which are repayment mortgages (also known as capital and interest mortgages) and interest only mortgages. When you are looking for a mortgage you need to decide whether you want to opt for a repayment mortgage, which is the most popular type of mortgage, or an interest only mortgage. Read more

Tags: type, interest only mortgages, time buyers, interest mortgages, mortgage term, repayment mortgages, UK mortgage terminology, taken out

Hints and Tips on Remortgaging

Over the past year or so many people in the UK have decided to remortgage as a result of rising interest rates and decreasing affordability. In order to avoid the implications of missed and late repayments due to lack of affordability homeowners have flocked to secure a better deal elsewhere, with some looking for a lower interest rate and others looking for increased financial stability by switching from a variable rate deal to a fixed rate deal. Read more

Tags: half, rate mortgage deals, late repayments, cheap fixed rate, remortgages, home equity

Actions To Ease The Mortgage Pain

There have already been several interest rate rises since August 2006, taking the Bank of England’s base rate from 4.5% to 5.75%. Read more

Tags: interest, england, savings, rates, Mortgages, offset, bank, payments

Discounted Mortgages – Compare Introductory Discount Mortgage Offers

With so many different types of mortgages available in the UK it can be difficult for homeowners or property purchasers to determine which is the best one for them.

Those looking to remortgage or those taking out a first mortgage can usually select from a range of special deals on mortgages from lenders that want to entice customers. Once of these is the discounted rate mortgage, which enables the borrower to enjoy lower monthly repayments compared to those on the lender’s standard variable interest rate. Read more

Tags: Mortgage loan, borrower, remortgage, loan, discounted mortgages, variable interest rate, Mortgages, property

Compare Mortgages Online – UK Mortgage Comparison

There are many different types of mortgages available in the UK these days, and in order to find the right mortgage for your needs you need to compare mortgages to see which one best suits your needs, circumstances, and budget. Read more

Tags: solution, huge financial commitment, compare mortgages, Mortgages, great deal, mortgage comparison, related mortgage articles, number

Best Buy-To-Let Mortgages

Here we take a look at the top mortgages for Buy-To-Lets currently available, and some of the advantages and disadvantages. Read more

Tags: round, number, minimum fee, Mortgages, buy to let mortgages, maximum loan, UK mortgage terminology, total advance

Bank Considers Latest Rate Decision

Since the last announcement on 10 May when rates increase by a quarter of a percent to 5.5% there has been a lot of speculation about the way interest rates may go in June.

The latest forecast is for rates to remain unchanged, but another quarter percent rise is still possible. At 5.5% in May rates went up to their highest level since February 2001. Read more

Tags: interest, rates, increase, home, Mortgages

What the recent interest rate rise means for your mortgage repayments

On 11th May the Bank of England increased its rates by another 0.25% to 5.5%, meaning that six million homeowners in Britain will face bigger monthly payments for their mortgages. Read more

Tags: inflation, bank, cost, house, rates

Endowment Mortgages UK – What Are They?

Interest only mortgages

Buying a house is the most expensive purchase you will ever make in your life. In the UK we are a nation of house buyers. In other countries they are quite happy renting property. Here, it’s our great history of land-owning that we can thank for the biggest millstone most of us carry for decades! Read more

Tags: endowment mortgages, property, Mortgages, massive growth, stock market, end, Margaret Thatcher, life assurance policy

What Is A Mortgage?

A High Price to pay

A house is probably the most expensive thing you will ever buy. Today, the average property in the UK costs approximately £195,000. Taking out a loan to cover this kind of sum is not something that should be done without a great deal of thought and consideration. Read more

Tags: interest only mortgages, what is a mortgage, mortgage definition, Mortgages, repayment mortgages