In a recent survey,1 41% of respondents agreed with the statement, ‘I cannot afford to live in the area I want or need to live in.’ Are buyers being priced out? Here or there? The results of the survey showed just how many renters and homeowners are unhappy with their...

Some 715,000 mortgage holders on tracker rates have seen payments rise by an average of £588 a year following the latest Bank Rate rise1. A further 895,000 on standard variable rates (SVR) will see yearly increases of £370. Monthly rise The Bank of England (BoE)’s...

One in five workers would rely on their partner’s income or savings if they were unable to work, according to a recent report1 that paints a worrying picture of the nation’s financial resilience. More than one in 10, meanwhile, would resort to taking on debt to cope,...

Rising rates dominated the news around housing and mortgage markets throughout 2022, setting the tone for an expected market downturn in 2023. After the latest Bank Rate rise in February increased repayments for those on variable rates, how will the mortgage and...

The cost-of-living crisis is taking its toll and many UK consumers are looking to reduce their outgoings. Before you consider cancelling your protection policy speak to me first. If affordability is a concern, you could reduce the amount of cover or remove additional...

According to Zoopla’s House Price Index, annual house price growth in the UK dropped to 7.2% in December. The index also showed that quarterly house price inflation slowed from over 2% in the summer to just 0.3% in the last three months of 2022. This makes an...

The government has confirmed that the mortgage guarantee scheme will run for another year to offer more support to first-time buyers. The scheme was introduced in April 2021 to increase the availability of 95% loan-to-value mortgages after they were withdrawn during...

It’s estimated that first-time buyers (FTB) using a gifted deposit can get onto the property ladder up to 11 years faster than prospective buyers consistently saving. The research1 found that a UK household saving £180 a month would take 10.9 years to reach the...

It’s fair to say that there’s a lot of gloom around the housing market right now. But 2023 could provide ideal opportunities for first-time buyers (FTBs) to get on the housing ladder. Buyers’ market Most experts are predicting significant price falls in 2023, which...

Many mortgage holders have seen their monthly payments soar in the past year. Alongside other cost-of-living pressures, the rise in this large monthly outgoing can be a major cause of stress. A meeting on 7 December 2022 provided some clarity and comfort. Chancellor...

Nearly half (45%) of adults between the ages of 25 and 44 who don’t have a protection policy aren’t sure they could cope financially if they were too ill to work. Worrying research from LV= suggests that a large minority of working adults could be in significant...

We’ve made it to 2023 after what has proved to be another difficult year. The cost-of-living crisis, rising mortgage rates and ongoing economic turbulence resulted in a challenging 2022 for many of us. No matter what 2023 has in store, we’re here to help keep your...

Applications are now closed for the Help to Buy loan scheme in England and there has been no announcement of a replacement, so what other help is available? Shared Ownership is another scheme that helps first-time buyers get onto the property ladder where you start by...

The average prospective buyer predicts they will be 37 years old by the time they finally step on the property ladder, up from 32 years old only two years ago. The survey by First Direct also found that 86% of prospective first-time buyers considered the...

Mortgage rates fell back in the last few months of 2022, having surged after September’s ‘mini-budget’. If you’re thinking about remortgaging, could now be a good time to secure a deal? Bank Rate blues The Bank of England has increased Bank Rate throughout 2022 and is...