Latest News
-
High Street Revival? Shoppers Flock Back as Footfall Surges
Hold onto your hats, investors! Retail property might be back in fashion as shoppers return to the high street in droves. New figures show that footfall in UK retail destinations saw a healthy 3.7% jump in May compared to April, putting a smile back on the face of struggling retailers. High streets are back in…
-
HSBC Hikes Mortgage Rates as June Cut Hopes Fade
Get ready for higher mortgage bills! HSBC is raising rates on its fixed-rate mortgages, and brokers warn that more lenders will follow suit. Hopes for a Bank of England interest rate cut in June are fading fast, and that’s sending shockwaves through the mortgage market. HSBC is the latest lender to increase rates, with selected…
-
Mortgage Meltdown – First-Time Buyers Gamble with 40-Year Loans
It’s getting harder to get on the property ladder, and now some first-time buyers are taking a risky gamble – mortgages that stretch for 40 years. New figures from UK Finance show that a shocking 21% of new home buyers are taking out mortgages that last longer than 35 years! That’s one in five people…
-
MFS Launches New ‘Fusion’ Loan to Beat Market Uncertainty
Worried about rising interest rates? MFS has launched a clever new loan that combines the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a bridging loan with the stability of a longer-term mortgage. They’re calling it ‘Bridge Fusion’, and it’s designed to give borrowers a safety net in these uncertain times. How does it work? Who…
-
Greater Manchester Hotspots Where House Prices Are Beating Inflation
While the rest of the North is struggling to keep up with rising costs, six areas in Greater Manchester are bucking the trend and seeing house prices soar. The national average house price might be up, but the South is leaving the North in the dust. In fact, only seven areas in the whole North…
-
Green Homes – Get a £13,000 Boost for Your Property
Want to sell your home for the best price? A green makeover could be the answer, according to new research. Forget fancy kitchens and trendy bathrooms, it’s your home’s energy efficiency that’s attracting buyers and boosting prices. Financial experts Morningstar have crunched the numbers, and the results are clear: a greener home means a bigger…
-
Fewer High-LTV Mortgages Available
The UK mortgage market has seen some changes, particularly for those looking to borrow with a smaller deposit. According to recent data from Moneyfacts, a leading financial product analyst, several high-loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage options have been pulled from the market in the last week of May. However, despite these withdrawals, the variety of available mortgage…
-
New Five-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage for Landlords
Cambridge and Counties Bank has recently unveiled a new five-year fixed rate mortgage plan specifically designed for residential landlords, signaling a strategic move to cater to the burgeoning demand from the property sector. The newly launched mortgage product comes at a time when the bank has noticed a significant increase in interest from both clients…
-
UK Home Renovation Fever – Spending Doubles
Over the last three years, UK homeowners have significantly ramped up their spending on renovation projects, reveals a comprehensive study by Houzz, a popular online design platform. The 2024 Houzz & Home Study gathered insights from nearly 2,000 UK residents aged 18 and above, shedding light on the evolving landscape of home renovations. Rise in…
-
Are Energy Performance Certificates Still Reliable?
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are essential tools in the United Kingdom, designed to provide insights into the energy efficiency of properties. Issued for homes sold, rented, or built since 2008, these certificates rate properties from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and suggest potential improvements. In a time when energy costs are soaring and…