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News: Mortgages

News

Autumn Budget Reaction: How Does it Impact You?

The Chancellor has now delivered the Autumn Budget, and while many of the headline measures were widely anticipated, you might understandably be asking “What does all this mean for my mortgage?” Below is a breakdown of the key themes and what they could mean for your finances over the coming months.

Preparing for the 2025 Autumn Budget

The Autumn Budget is always a key moment for homeowners, investors and savers. This year’s announcement on 26th November is expected to be no different. The Chancellor will set out the government’s plans for tax, borrowing and spending for the year ahead.

How Spending Choices Affect Your Mortgage Options

When it comes to managing your finances, your credit score plays a key role – especially if you’re thinking about remortgaging. Many homeowners don’t realise that everyday spending and borrowing decisions can influence the way lenders view your financial health.

Your Mortgage Review Checklist for Autumn

With Autumn around the corner, it’s the perfect time to take control of your finances and your mortgage should be at the top of that list. With interest rates and market conditions constantly shifting, staying proactive could save you thousands over the life of your loan.

Economic Outlook: The Time to Buy

If you’ve been wondering whether to take the leap and buy a home, summer 2025 could be the perfect moment to do just that, especially if you’re looking to settle into a new space ahead of 2026. Whether it’s a growing family, a new job, or lifestyle changes that’s sparked your interest in moving, the…

Falling Rates & Rising Wages Boost Affordability

Mortgage owners across the UK are finally seeing a brighter financial outlook as the tide begins to turn in their favour. Recent developments in the mortgage market suggest that affordability is on the rise, driven by a combination of falling interest rates and modest wage growth.

Flexibility When Selling Your Home

If you’re thinking about selling, you’re probably wondering how long it will take for your property to sell. On average, homes in England spend around 36 days on the market before a sale is agreed.

Staying on Track for Your Next Move

You deserve the home you want, but with the recent Stamp Duty changes, moving to your next home may now feel a bit more expensive. While this increase adds additional costs to most properties, it doesn’t make your goal impossible. There are still ways to make your next move more manageable.

Stamp Duty Changes April 2025: What You Need to Know

From 1st April 2025, major changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) take effect, impacting the majority of homeowners in the UK. If you’re planning to buy or move home, it’s crucial to understand how these changes could impact your costs.

How to Navigate Asking Prices

The housing market is off to a strong start in 2025, with average asking prices reaching £366,189 in January – a 1.8% increase compared to last year. While the market shows signs of growth, navigating asking prices can feel overwhelming, especially with rising competition among buyers and sellers. Here’s how you can approach it confidently…

Preparing for Potential Mortgage Payment Increases in 2025

The Bank of England has warned that mortgage payments for half of homeowners will rise over the next three years, putting 4.4 million households under financial pressure. Among these, about 420,000 households could face increases of £500 or more per month. This trend stems from rising interest rates as the Bank works to combat inflation.…

Fixed or Tracker: Choosing the Right Option After a Bank Rate Cut

As we approach 2025, the latest interest bank rate cut to 4.75% (November), the lowest level in over a year, gives homeowners and buyers a moment to review their mortgage options. While this is a positive sign, 4.75% is still high compared to the low rates of the past, so it’s essential to weigh your…

Why You Should Start Planning Your Remortgage Now

As we approach the end of 2024, many homeowners are facing the need to remortgage. If your mortgage deal is coming to an end soon, it’s essential to start planning now. Acting early can provide you with a wider range of options and prevent the stress of last-minute decisions.

Give Your Mental Health the Attention it Needs

During the state opening of parliament on July 17th, The Labour government outlined its plans to reform the Mental Health Act, focusing on improving mental health provision. In alignment with these government efforts, insurance providers have enhanced policies which include benefits that cater to people, young and old. So how can they support you?

Saving for your next house deposit: Tips in 2024

In today’s competitive housing market, saving for a mortgage deposit can feel like a daunting task for many aspiring homeowners. However, with careful planning and disciplined saving habits, achieving this financial milestone is within reach.

Navigating the mortgage market in 2024

As the mortgage market continues to evolve, staying informed is key to securing the best deal when purchasing a home. Several factors influence the mortgage landscape, and being aware of these can enable you to make informed decisions.

High inflation: how does it affect me?

As inflation remains high, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at how it could impact you. Whether you are behind on payments, looking to stretch your finances or coming to the end of your mortgage term, there are options available to help you.

What does the mortgage charter mean for you?

The Mortgage Charter is a new set of rules that helps people when they’re trying to get a mortgage to buy a house, it’s like a guide that mortgage lenders have to follow. So what’s the purpose of the Mortgage Charter and how does it impact you?

Could falling fixed rates help prospective buyers?

In July, both two and five-year fixed-rate deals dropped by 0.02% for the first time since May. Although the forecast for further changes is uncertain, the initial drop in rates is promising and could lead to a more favourable environment for prospective buyers if rates continue to fall in 2023.

How can I go green for less?

Everyone is doing their bit to tackle climate change, but these changes can come at a cost. So how can you make an impact without breaking the bank?

100% Mortgages: How can they help me?

A 100% mortgage, also known as a zero-deposit mortgage, is a loan that allows first-time buyers to borrow the full purchase price of a property without having a deposit. What does this mean?

House prices fall: Is it the right time to buy?

Knowing when to buy a house can be challenging, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Although household budgets remain under pressure from high inflation, confidence is returning to the property market as house prices fell 3.1% on an annual basis in March.

Green Mortgages: what you need to know

With the COP27 summit last month, the climate conversation is at the forefront of people’s minds once again. Reducing the impact, we have on our planet has become a key priority for homeowners up and down the country as we head towards the point of no return. Lenders are aware of this and want to…

Fixed rate mortgage term ending: what should I do next?

As your fixed rate mortgage term approaches its end, it’s essential to carefully consider your next steps. This critical moment presents an excellent opportunity to reassess your financial situation and evaluate your circumstances.

How much can I borrow?

This is by far the most common question that is posed to us at the beginning of any mortgage meeting. Many years ago, you may recall banks and building societies using a simple calculation when assessing your borrowing capacity. It was typically 3 times the main earners annual gross income and once the second applicant…

The government’s pledge to combat declining homeownership rates

Between 1996 and 2016, the percentage of 25 to 34-year-olds who own their own homes has fallen 19% from 55% to 34%. In a bid to combat this, prime minister Boris Johnson has set out plans that include proposals for housing benefit being able to be counted towards a mortgage. The prime minister vowed to…

Protection: Why you should always be covered amid a cost-of-living crisis

Protection insurance is severely undervalued by thousands of people across the UK. Often seen as an unnecessary expense – there are a vast number of people living in this country who are yet to take out a protection plan and therefore remain unprepared should they lose their income or worse – their life. With a…

Base rate: all you need to know

You have more than likely heard the term ‘base rate’ banded around in the news over the last few months, but what does it actually mean? Why does one rate have such an impact on so many mortgage products nationwide and why has the base rate risen? We take a look at all you need…

What will ‘levelling up’ mean for you?

At the beginning of February, the government released their ‘levelling up’ white paper – a document that sets out a “complete system change” of how government operates that will be put into practice in order to level up the UK. The paper outlines 12 new national missions with a view to them being achieved by…

Key worker products – what’s out there?

After nearly two years of key workers holding the country up on their shoulders through their immeasurable effort and sacrifice throughout the pandemic, more and more mortgage products are becoming available with exclusive benefits specifically for key workers. So, what do you need to know when it comes to benefiting from these special rates?

Does the interest base rate rise affect you?

You may already be aware that on Thursday the Bank of England increased the base rate from 0.25% to 0.5%. This is big news in the financial services industry and could have a significant impact on your mortgage and savings.

Advice

The ultimate mortgage jargon-buster (A–Z glossary)

Laura Haysom
Laura Haysom
Business and Admin Manager

The world of mortgages is full of technical language. So, to clear the confusion, here’s an A–Z glossary of the most common terms, with a simple explanation of what they all mean.

How to get a mortgage (a step-by-step guide)

Beth Hampton CeMAP
Beth Hampton CeMAP
Consultant

Getting a mortgage is probably the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make. So it’s important you know what to expect, how much it might cost, and what kind of mortgage product is right for you.

How to find the right mortgage broker

Dean Anderson-Haysom CeMAP
Dean Anderson-Haysom CeMAP
Director

Whether it’s your first step on the property ladder or you’re looking to remortgage your current home, you might need a mortgage broker. But where should you start your search? How much should you expect to pay? And how d’you know who’s the right fit? We answer all your questions, right here.