Mortgages
Endowments: better outcomes for consumers but no room for complacency
Consumers are getting better outcomes in the way their mortgage endowment complaints are handled, according to a report by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Leeds Building Society commits to fixed rate mortgage range
Leeds Building Society has guaranteed that all its current range of fixed rate mortgages will be available until close of business on Friday 15th December.
John Charcol: Bank rate stays at 5%
Ray Boulger of John Charcol, UK independent mortgage adviser, comments on today’s decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England to hold Bank Rate at 5%: “An unchanged Bank Rate today was a foregone conclusion and it currently looks as if next month’s meeting will produce the same result. Last month’s set of economic statistics have mainly been either neutral or indicate that no further rise in Bank Rate is needed in the foreseeable future, especially the very weak Industrial Production figures announced yesterday. The recent sharp rise in sterling against the dollar is another material reason for not increasing Bank Rate.
A month of rising mortgage rates and fees
Scott Hanton, mortgage analyst at moneyfacts.co.uk comments: "As expected, most mortgage lenders have now increased their standard variable rates, revised their mortgage ranges and increased their tracker products following the November base rate rise. However there have also been some other more unexpected adjustments – by way of increased arrangement fees.
Leeds Building Society launches new 3 year fixed rate mortgage
Leeds Building Society has launched a new 3-year fixed rate mortgage at only 5.29%.
UK interest rates kept on hold at 5.0%
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain UK interest rates at 5.0%.
Buy-to-let landlords see returns exceed 13%
Buy-to-let landlords have seen a significant increase in total returns, according to Paragon Mortgages Buy-to-Let Index.
Confidence in mortgage industry soars
The latest in a series of six monthly polls to gauge IFAs’ opinions has revealed that broker confidence in the mortgage industry is the highest it has been in over ten years, according to Mortgage Trust.
Consumers like using mortgage endowment claims firms
Consumers are using endowment claims companies to save time and help them through what they see as a complex process, according to research by the Financial Services Consumer Panel.
Is there a place for HLCs in a buoyant property market?
Julia Harris, analyst at moneyfacts.co.uk investigates: “Last week, Portman BS announced that they would no longer apply a higher lending charge to its fixed rate mortgage range. But surprisingly over three quarters of mortgage lenders still do charge a higher lending fee, a figure, which has not changed over the past 12 months.
Pru is best lifetime mortgage provider
After only a year since launch, the Prudential’s Property Value Release Plan has made it a hat-trick of awards for 2006.
GMAC-RFC announces ninth portfolio sale worth £165 million
GMAC-RFC today announces its ninth portfolio sale to West Bromwich Mortgage Company Ltd.
Buy-to-let breaks new barrier
The number of unique buy-to-let mortgage products displayed by online sourcing system eMoneyfacts.co.uk has broken through the two thousand mark for the first time.
Kensington Mortgages cuts the price of its fixed rates
Kensington Mortgages has cut the price of its fixed rates and introduced a new range of market leading 85% LTV deals as part of a revamp of its entire product range.
Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank targets professional landlords
Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank has launched a Wholesale Buy-to-Let product aimed at professional landlords with larger portfolios of predominantly residential investment properties.