May 24, 2012
Demand for buy-to-let shows no signs of weakening with almost two-thirds of brokers expecting to do more mortgage business with landlords this year than last.
According to research from Nationwide, almost three-quarters of brokers questioned believe the number of new landlords will ...
Buy-to-let lending climbs its way up
Permalink: Buy-to-let lending climbs its way up
by Gill Montia
Landlords’ financial profiles revealed
Permalink: Landlords’ financial profiles revealed
by Gill Montia
May 21, 2012
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has warned that eurozone developments are once again highly uncertain and have the potential to disrupt the UK's housing and mortgage markets.
The threat of a Greek exit from the euro has unsettled the money markets ...
Eurozone crisis impacts UK mortgage market
Permalink: Eurozone crisis impacts UK mortgage market
by Gill Montia
May 15, 2012
First-time buyers were hard hit by tighter lending conditions in April, as loans for new buyers dropped to their lowest level for nine months.
According to e.surv, part of the LSL Property group, mortgage approvals for house purchases fell ...
First-time buyers mortgage approvals fall on eurozone fears
Permalink: First-time buyers mortgage approvals fall on eurozone fears
by Gill Montia
May 10, 2012
Lenders took back 9,600 homes in the first quarter of 2012, up from 8,700 in the final three months of last year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
However, the increase is in line with seasonal trends and the UK's repossessions landscape would ...
Repossessions landscape stable
Permalink: Repossessions landscape stable
by Gill Montia
April 24, 2012
Gross mortgage lending stood at around £13.4 billion in March, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), with the figure up 17% year-on-year.
The ending of the stamp duty concession resulted in the highest monthly total for March since 2008, meaning gross lending ...
Mortgage lending jumps 17%
Permalink: Mortgage lending jumps 17%
by Gill Montia
April 19, 2012
Fraudulent applications for mortgages increased by 8% in 2011, according to Experian.
Last year was the fifth in a row to see a rise, with 34 in every 10,000 mortgage applications found to be fraudulent, compared to just 15 in every 10,000 in ...
Mortgage application fraud up 8%
Permalink: Mortgage application fraud up 8%
by Gill Montia
April 17, 2012
Lending to first-time buyers and home movers increased in February, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
During the month, 14,100 loans worth £1.7 billion were taken out by first-time buyers, up 8% by number and 6% by value from January and ...
Mortgage lending figures encouraging
Permalink: Mortgage lending figures encouraging
by Gill Montia
April 5, 2012
The Financial Services Consumer Panel (FSPC) is calling on the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to do more to protect Britain's "mortgage prisoners".
The Panel, which oversees the interests of consumers in financial services regulation, believes many homeowners are trapped in existing mortgage ...
Call for protection for “mortgage prisoners”
Permalink: Call for protection for “mortgage prisoners”
by Gill Montia
March 21, 2012
Gross mortgage lending held steady in February, at around £10.7 billion, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
In addition, house purchase continued to strengthen and not entirely because first-time buyers are rushing to beat the deadline for the stamp duty concession ...
Mortgage lending holds steady
Permalink: Mortgage lending holds steady
by Gill Montia
March 12, 2012
Barclays has launched two first-time buyer mortgages to support the Government’s NewBuy initiative, which aims to provide mortgages of up to 95% loan-to-value for new-build properties in England.
First-time buyers or home movers purchasing a new build house or flat (with participating builders up ...
Barclays launches NewBuy mortgages
Permalink: Barclays launches NewBuy mortgages
by Gill Montia
March 5, 2012
Halifax is hiking its Standard Variable Rate (SRV) from 3.5% to 3.99%, from 1st May.
In addition, the lender is raising its Halifax Variable Rate 2 (currently 3.4%) and Halifax Flexible Variable Mortgage Rate (currently 3.4%) to 3.89%, also from 1st May.
Affected ...
Halifax hikes SVR
Permalink: Halifax hikes SVR
by Gill Montia
February 14, 2012
First-time buyer numbers increased in December, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
During the month, there were 18,700 loans advanced to first-time buyers, with the figure up 7% from November.
CML data also show a 3% rise in the number ...
First time buyers buoy mortgage lending
Permalink: First time buyers buoy mortgage lending
by Gill Montia
February 13, 2012
The Government has announced a new £20 million safety net to help ensure that repossession remains the last resort for struggling mortgage borrowers.
According to Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, the Preventing Repossessions Fund gives councils in England the opportunity to offer interest-free loans of less than £5,000, ...
Launch of £20m fund to prevent repossessions
Permalink: Launch of £20m fund to prevent repossessions
by Gill Montia
February 9, 2012
Last year 36,200 homes were taken back by first-charge mortgage lenders, the lowest annual total since 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
Buy-to-let properties accounted for 5,900 repossessions in 2011, up from 4,700 in 2010.
However, arrears ...
Arrears and repossession down but worse to come
Permalink: Arrears and repossession down but worse to come
by Gill Montia
February 2, 2012
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has unveiled a range of measures aimed at helping first-time buyers and boosting prospects for house builders.
From March, the NewBuy Guarantee scheme will be on hand to help those buying newly-built properties.
The scheme brings lenders, builders and ...
NewBuy Guarantee scheme launches in March
Permalink: NewBuy Guarantee scheme launches in March
by Gill Montia
January 30, 2012
Buying a home in Scotland is cheaper than renting, according to Bank of Scotland.
For a three-bedroom house, the typical mortgage payment in the region amounted to £510 in December, or 6% less than the monthly rent of £540 for the same ...
Buying 6% cheaper than renting
Permalink: Buying 6% cheaper than renting
by Gill Montia
January 26, 2012
Gross mortgage lending of £9 billion in December was at its strongest for the whole of last year, according to the British Bankers' Association, with the total up 12% on the same period of 2010.
However, repayments by homeowners remained high and ...
Mortgage lending rallies in December
Permalink: Mortgage lending rallies in December
by Gill Montia
January 23, 2012
Gross mortgage lending in December stood at an estimated £11.7 billion, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The total falls 12% short of the £13.2 billion recorded in November but is up 12% year-on-year.
In fact, December was the fifth ...
CML: mortgage funding prospects “uncertain”
Permalink: CML: mortgage funding prospects “uncertain”
by Gill Montia
January 17, 2012
Mortgage payments for new borrowers have almost halved as a proportion of disposable income, down from a peak of 48% in the third quarter of 2007 to 27% at the end of 2011.
According to new Halifax research, repayments for both ...
Mortgage payments most affordable in 14 years
Permalink: Mortgage payments most affordable in 14 years
by Gill Montia