Mortgages
Abbey launches market leading four-year fixed rate
Abbey has introduced a market leading four-year fix at 85 per cent LTV with a rate of 5.99 per cent. The product, which is available through Abbey branches and over the telephone, has a fee of £995 and comes with either the Homebuyer Solution or Remortgage Solution.
How do first time buyers plan to secure the funds?
As house prices continue to fall, research from moneysupermarket.com found 13 per cent of 18-34 year olds are considering stepping on to the property ladder for the first time in the next 12 months.
Homebuyers continue to place trust with intermediaries
Mortgage intermediaries continue to dominate mortgage lending, despite the increased focus by some lenders on direct distribution, industry figures have revealed.
Libor rate falls to lowest level since 1986
Commenting on the Libor rate falling to its lowest level since 1986, Louise Cuming, head of mortgages at moneysupermarket.com said: "Banks and building societies are benefiting from the lowest borrowing rates for two decades but this isn't being passed on to consumers.
Equity release figures encouraging
Dominic Fraser-Smith, group product manager for UK Life, Aviva comments on equity release sales as revealed by SHIP - the UK equity release industry bodies - official sector Q2 2009 figures: "These figures are encouraging and we believe they could herald the first glimmers of a recovery for the UK equity release market.
Equity release sector continues to weather the storm
The number of new equity release customers rose by 5% from 5074 (Q1 2009) to 5328 (Q2 2009) as more consumers turned to equity release to boost their pre and post retirement finances, according to Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP).
Are tracker mortgages looking better value than fixed rates?
Navigating the mortgage market maze is difficult at the best of times, but the last five weeks have been more turbulent than most. June saw the cost of fixed rate mortgages rocket, with many lenders increasing their 5 year fixes by around 1%, despite swap rates peaking as long ago as 11 June.
Swap rates not the only influence on mortgage pricing
The Council of Mortgage Lenders is concerned that some recent coverage of fixed-rate mortgage pricing fails to reflect the complex array of influences on lenders' pricing strategies at present.
To fix or not to fix! Top tips for choosing a mortgage
In a low interest rate environment it can be hard to know what mortgage deal is best for your circumstances so Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, brings you three top tips on choosing a new mortgage deal.
RICS: Bank of England July interest rate decision
Commenting on the Bank of England's interest rate decision, Brigid O'Leary, RICS senior economist said: "The Bank of England's commitment to complete the next £25bn of asset purchases within the next month suggests that the August MPC meeting, coinciding with the release of an Inflation Report, may be a more appropriate time to consider increasing the asset purchasing programme further.
It's another hold for bank rate with many more to come
"The MPC's decision today to leave Bank Rate unchanged for another month was really the only possible conclusion and the committee probably spent more time discussing the Quantitative Easing (QE) programme than whether to change Bank Rate.
moneysupermarket.com: Nationwide 125% mortgage
Commenting on Nationwide's 125 per cent mortgage, Louise Cuming, head of mortgage at moneysupermarket.com said: "Three cheers for Nationwide: at a time when overly restrictive and cautious lending practices are holding the housing market back, Nationwide's flexible approach is to be welcomed.
Nationwide should be applauded for mortgage stance
Andrew Hagger of Moneynet.co.uk comments on the news that Nationwide Building Society is to offer mortgages up to 125% LTV.
Tightening in lending criteria abates
New estimates from the Council of Mortgage Lenders suggest that a higher proportion of young first-time buyers than ever before are getting help from parents to enter the market. But more positively, the CML's latest data shows signs that lending criteria stopped tightening in May.
Nationwide 125% LTV mortgage
As a responsible lender which aims to support its borrowers Nationwide has responded to market conditions and made an option available which enables some existing customers in negative equity to move home.