Latest News

Borrowers should beware of interest rates rising, says Duncan Lawrie Private Bank

The Financial Policy Committee’s latest Stability Report has revealed a worrying sign for borrowers according to Duncan Lawrie Private Bank.

27 Jun 2013

Government & ABI reach agreement on flood insurance

Hundreds of thousands of households in flood-prone areas will be guaranteed affordable flood insurance after the government and insurance industry agreed a deal today.

27 Jun 2013

N&P says borrowers are choosing low-fee mortgages

More than four out of five new borrowers with Norwich & Peterborough Building Society this year have chosen a low-fee mortgage.

27 Jun 2013

OFT refers payday lending market to Competition Commission

The OFT today referred the market for payday lending in the UK to the Competition Commission because of concerns the OFT has about deep-rooted problems with the way competition works.

27 Jun 2013

Zurich enhances Critical Illness cover

Zurich today announces enhancements to its Critical Illness product including improved protection for patients with breast cancer and partial payments on 6 medical conditions.

27 Jun 2013

Second-time buyers held back by negative equity, says Post Office

According to research from Post Office’s Step-Up report, 28% of second-time buyers are unable to progress on the property ladder due to negative equity.

27 Jun 2013

Scottish Widows launches enhanced annuity to intermediary market

Scottish Widows is launching a competitively priced enhanced annuity into the intermediary market.

27 Jun 2013

USA sees biggest house prices gains in years

According to Case Shiller data, properties in the USA, on average, lost more than a third of their value in the recession, with some areas losing more than half their value.

26 Jun 2013

Hinckley & Rugby sees 40% increase in mortgage apps

Hinckley & Rugby Building Society received more than £54 million of mortgage applications in the first half of its financial year, a 40 per cent increase on the same period a year before.

26 Jun 2013

Virgin Money refunds interest payments to 1,000 borrowers

Virgin Money has refunded about 1,000 of its former Northern Rock customers for interest payments after Northern Rock Asset Management announced in December there were errors in mortgage statements issued to borrowers.

26 Jun 2013

The Debt Advisor puts payday loans back under the spotlight

Beverley Budsworth, Managing Director of The Debt Advisor has been invited to chat to Adrian Goldberg on BBC Radio West Midlands today as it appears that the payday loan Industry is under the spotlight again.

26 Jun 2013

Alternative loans outperform alternative equities, says West One report

Investments in peer-to-peer lending models have vastly outpaced the alternative equity market, according to the latest research from privately funded lender West One Loans.

26 Jun 2013

PMS and Sesame launch exclusive via Melton Mowbray BS

PMS members and appointed representatives of Sesame network have access to a new exclusive three-year discount product from Melton Mowbray Building Society with an early repayment charge in the first 12 months only.

26 Jun 2013

Shawbrook announces changes to commercial range

Shawbrook Bank has given its brokers some good news to close quarter two with a raft of changes across its commercial mortgages product range.

26 Jun 2013

Retention products don't fit with post-MMR environment

Retention products are unlikely to satisfy client suitability principles in the post Mortgage Market Review environment, according to Personal Touch, one of the UK's largest mortgage distributors.

25 Jun 2013

SBSLS offers new Precise 85% range

Sesame Bankhall Specialist Lending Services offers Precise Mortgages 85% LTV products with rates from 3.79%

25 Jun 2013

BBA: Mortgage borrowing and approvals both rose in May

Gross mortgage borrowing of £8.6bn in May was 7.5% higher than the recent monthly average, according to data from the latest BBA High Street Banking statistics.

25 Jun 2013

Blemain unveils changes across product range

Blemain Finance has today unveiled changes across a range of its products to reduce costs for brokers, further improve conversion rates, and allow them to make quicker lending decisions.

25 Jun 2013

Remortgage lending hits record highs

LMS figures reveal that monthly gross remortgage lending increased by £576m in May to £3.9bn. This is up 17.1% on April’s £3.4bn reported by the Council for Mortgage Lenders last week.

25 Jun 2013

Connect Mortgages launches Precise exclusives

Connect Mortgages, part of Connect Group, is today sending its introducers details of the latest exclusive enhancements to Precise Mortgages' Home Owner range of products.

24 Jun 2013

Precise introduces 'Almost Prime' range alongside mortgage changes

Precise Mortgages, the intermediary only lender, has simplified its entire Home Owner range in a bid to make it easier for brokers to understand and to focus on customers underserved by high street lenders.

24 Jun 2013

Prime buyers say number of bathrooms is a dealbreaker

Four out of five (79%) prime homebuyers in the UK state that the number of bathrooms in a prospective property is a significant factor in their decision-making process, according to a survey of over 4,000 prime buyers by PrimeLocation.com.

24 Jun 2013

Next Paradigm mortgage round table to focus on MMR

The fourth mortgage round table event to be held in 2013 by Paradigm Mortgage Services, will provide attendees with an update on the Mortgage Market Review and offer advice on what firms should be doing to prepare for the regulatory changes.

24 Jun 2013

Networks should 'take greater control over conveyancing', says distributor

Broker Conveyancing, the broker-focused conveyancing distributor, has today urged all networks, but particularly small to medium-sized operators, to take control of their conveyancing propositions in order to reduce risk and improve income revenue.

24 Jun 2013

Chelsea BS launches 'best buy' 2-year fix at 1.64%

Chelsea Building Society has announced that it will make further reductions to its mortgage range including a best buy 2 Year fixed rate mortgage at 1.64%.

22 Jun 2013

Two thirds of affordable housing snapped up by FTBs

First-time buyers remain the biggest beneficiaries of affordable housing schemes, accounting for 65% of purchases over the last year, according to Halifax's latest Affordable Housing Review.

22 Jun 2013

Halifax Intermediaries withdraws 80% LTV products

As of today, Halifax Intermediaries has announced that it will be withdrawing the majority of its 80% LTV products.

21 Jun 2013

Tenant arrears drop as rent rise slows down

Rent rises in May were slower than recent months, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services plc, which owns the UK’s largest lettings agent network, including national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains.

21 Jun 2013