Financial Reporter | Latest News

Desktop valuations as a strategic lever in modern lending

Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Rebecca Freeman, risk director at Legal & General Surveying Services, explores how desktop valuations have evolved from a crisis response into a strategic tool for lenders balancing speed, scalability and risk.

Why calm heads still matter in noisy markets

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Bob Hunt, chief executive of Paradigm Mortgage Services, says good advice firms generally stick to their knitting, focus on what they do well and avoid being distracted by every new trend or supposed opportunity that appears during volatile periods.

100% mortgages: Access, not affordability, is the real problem

Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Pagan, director of product, portfolio and operations at April Mortgages, explains why at 100% LTV, stability matters most.

'There’s still plenty of demand there, it’s just not always straightforward': Chris Blewitt, Darlington BS

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We spoke to Chris Blewitt, head of intermediary distribution at Darlington Building Society, about what’s driving growth at the Society, how broker behaviour is evolving, and where Darlington is focusing its lending in 2026.

The remortgage reset: Why brokers play a crucial role in a higher-rate market

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Jonathan Stinton, head of intermediary relationships at Coventry for Intermediaries, says today’s borrowers need help with making informed decisions in a more complicated market – whether that means fixing for longer, releasing equity, repaying an additional loan or simply waiting for the right moment to act; every case is different.

The hidden cost of right-first-time failures

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Matthew Elliott, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Nivo, says firms that improve their right first time rates will not just save admin time - they will complete more of the business already in their pipeline, reduce drop-outs and create more capacity.

The Renter’s Rights Act 2026: Impact of specialist buy-to-let and the rise of the professional landlord

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Tom Steer, head of underwriting at LendInvest, provides mortgage brokers with the essential knowledge required to navigate the high-stakes transitions from traditional buy-to-let to a professionalised, specialist market.

The IHT freeze is creating a cashflow problem introducers cannot ignore

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Becky Dixon, growth manager at Ampla Finance, says it is easy to think about inheritance tax purely in terms of liability. How much is owed, and why. But for most people, the more immediate concern is far simpler. When does the bill need to be paid, and how is it paid if the funds are not yet accessible?

Same question, different answer: what brokers need to know about AI consistency and regulated advice

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In the third in a four-part series, Zahid Bilgrami, CEO of Mortgage Brain, explores the pillars of Mortgage Brain's AI Charter: cost, intellectual property, consistency, and speed.

The mortgage industry is solving the wrong problem

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Ash Borland, mortgage business coach at Ash Borland Consulting, explains why most mortgage brokers aren't short of leads, they are short of structure.

'I don’t ever see an environment where the intermediary isn’t needed': Toni Smith, Sesame

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We spoke to Toni Smith, director of Sesame, about what brokers should look for in a potential network, the two things Sesame has a laser focus on in 2026, and the biggest opportunities for brokers for the rest of the year.

How long will any sort of calm last for first-time buyers?

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Patrick Bamford, head of international business development at Qualis Credit Risk, explains that although mortgage markets have stabilised slightly after disruption from the Iran conflict and rising inflation, uncertainty remains high, so borrowers should act now rather than wait for better deals.

Adverse credit in 2026: what brokers need to look out for

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:00:00 GMT

As higher rates, cost-of-living pressures, and a refinancing wave reshape borrower finances, adverse credit cases are becoming more common. Oliver Smith, strategic partnership manager at Vida, explores what brokers need to understand about context, recency, and responsible packaging when placing specialist lending cases.

Guiding client decisions in an uncertain market

Wed, 06 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Roland McCormack, head of mortgage intermediaries at Barclays, says the real challenge in periods of volatility is often helping clients stay anchored and make an informed, long-term choice, rather than being pulled by immediate or sharp movements.

Where does your client's data really go? What brokers need to know about AI and intellectual property

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In the second in a four-part series, Zahid Bilgrami, CEO of Mortgage Brain, explores the pillars of Mortgage Brain's AI Charter: cost, intellectual property, consistency, and speed.

'The key message for brokers is this: Don’t self-filter good cases out too early': Claire Askham, Buckinghamshire BS

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We spoke to Claire Askham, head of mortgage sales at Buckinghamshire Building Society, about how lenders can make sure their solutions genuinely work for brokers and borrowers, how building societies have continued to evolve, and her key takeaway for brokers in 2026.

Rent controls - a policy that sounds simple but carries complex consequences

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Steve Cox, chief commercial officer at Fleet Mortgages, says while the intention of rent controls is to improve affordability, the result can be fewer available properties and, ultimately, more pressure on rents over time.

Buy-to-let ‘remortgage season’ is here – why 2026 is being defined by refinance demand

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

John Goodall, CEO of Landbay, says brokers need solutions that allow them to place business smoothly, particularly when dealing with higher volumes of remortgage cases over a sustained period.

The hidden cost of AI: What mortgage brokers need to know before they sign

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In the first in a four-part series, Zahid Bilgrami, CEO of Mortgage Brain, explores the pillars of Mortgage Brain's AI Charter: cost, intellectual property, consistency, and speed.

The industrial sector is holding firm, but the margin for error is tightening

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Michael Thompson, lending director at LHV Bank, says the industrial sector is not losing momentum but instead, the focus has returned to the fundamentals, with asset quality, borrower strength and deal structure now carrying far more weight in determining outcomes.