Mortgages
Mortgage brokers confident about business
Mortgage brokers expect to conduct 6.7% more business in the second quarter of 2010 than they did in the first, displaying further signs of returning confidence in the sector.
Savings from offset mortgages beat cash ISAs
A study by first direct shows that over the last ten years typical cash ISA savers, who also hold a mortgage, would have been better off by placing their savings pot in a mortgage offset account.
Mortgages with flexible benefits important to customers
Customers value a degree of flexibility on their mortgage, according to research by Lloyds TSB. Just over two thirds (68%) of those surveyed highlighted flexibility as a key ‘important' feature, with 40% of respondents underlining flexibility as ‘very important', and 31% stating that this flexibility had become even more important within the last year.
Steady growth in direct only mortgages
Independent financial research company Defaqto has launched a new banking report which highlights the growth in direct only mortgage products.
Britannia and The Co-op offer 90% LTV mortgages
Britannia and The Co-operative Bank are giving first time buyers and those looking for a new home a huge helping hand with the introduction of a package of measures to help support them in buying a new property.
Money still key for yuppies of yesteryear
With a sequel to the 1987 hit movie Wall Street soon to hit our screens, it seems that ruthless stockbroker Gordon Gekko's famous mantra ‘Greed is good' may still resonate with the ‘yuppies of yesteryear'.
Britain's wasted mortgage years
Over two thirds (63%) of borrowers on a tracker mortgage are not taking advantage of the low interest rates to overpay on their mortgage, according to research by unbiased.co.uk. This has risen from just over half (53%) of borrowers in May 2009.
Mortgage rates at lowest level in a year
When bank base rate dropped to 0.50% last year the mortgage market entered unchartered waters. Initial reductions in mortgage rates were soon wiped out as lenders took an increasing margin for risk.
Fixed rate mortgages fall to lowest level since April 2007
Analysis by moneysupermarket.com shows that mortgage borrowers who are looking for the security of fixed monthly repayments, or are still undecided whether to move off their Standard Variable Rate (SVR) should now consider fixing their mortgage as average fixed rates have fallen across the board to their lowest levels since 2007.
Variable rates continue to dominate mortgage landscape
The latest John Charcol Mortgage Index reveals that 84% of borrowers took a variable rate mortgage in March 2010, the highest figure since October 2008. The index also revealed that just 7% of mortgages arranged were for first time buyers.
Equity release market remains robust
SHIP, the equity release provider trade body, today announced equity release market figures for the first quarter of 2010. Initial data for the start of the year taken from all of the members indicates that while the market is suffering some effects from the loss of providers, demand is strong and activity remains buoyant.
moneysupermarket.com – HSBC Split Loan Mortgage
Commenting on the launch of HSBC's Split Loan Mortgage, Hannah-Mercedes Skenfield, mortgage channel manager at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Interest rates are at a record low and we know the next move will be upwards so many borrowers' gut instincts could be telling them that now is the time to fix -
More flexibility for borrowers with HSBC Split Loan Mortgage
Andrew Hagger of Moneynet.co.uk looks at the new split mortgage product being launched by HSBC on Monday 26 April.
HSBC Split Loan Mortgage
HSBC is to launch a Split Loan Mortgage which allows customers to fix a proportion of their mortgage, while the rest of the loan remains variable, tracking the Bank of England base rate for the life of the loan.
Coventry launches new Capped BBR Tracker mortgage
Coventry has launched a mortgage product which offers the best of both worlds - a capped base rate tracker. This product combines all of the best features of a base rate tracker and a fixed rate mortgage - a low initial starting rate, and protection if interest rates start to rise.